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If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident
Baron de Montesquieu
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Baron de Montesquieu
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More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu
Man is a social animal formed to please in society.
Baron de Montesquieu
With truths of a certain kind, it is not enough to make them appear convincing: one must also make them felt. Of such kind are moral truths.
Baron de Montesquieu
An injustice committed against anyone is a threat to everyone.
Baron de Montesquieu
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron de Montesquieu
Mediocrity is a hand-rail.
Baron de Montesquieu
In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.
Baron de Montesquieu
Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.
Baron de Montesquieu
We ought to be very cautious and circumspect in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty.
Baron de Montesquieu
The incomparable stupidity of life teaches us to love our parents divine philosophy teaches us to forgive them.
Baron de Montesquieu
The state is the association of men, and not men themselves the citizen may perish, and the man remain.
Baron de Montesquieu
I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.
Baron de Montesquieu
What unhappy beings men are! They constantly waver between false hopes and silly fears, and instead of relying on reason they create monsters to frighten themselves with, and phantoms which lead them astray.
Baron de Montesquieu
Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.
Baron de Montesquieu
Solemnity is the shield of idiots
Baron de Montesquieu
There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines they feel.
Baron de Montesquieu
When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.
Baron de Montesquieu
That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth. They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow.
Baron de Montesquieu
There is as yet no liberty if the power of judging be not separated from legislative power and the executrix
Baron de Montesquieu
We must have constantly present in our minds the difference between independence and liberty. Liberty is a right of doing whatever the laws permit, and if a citizen could do what they forbid he would no longer be possessed of liberty.
Baron de Montesquieu
The wickedness of mankind makes it necessary for the law to suppose them better than they really are.
Baron de Montesquieu
