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Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

Baron de Montesquieu

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Baron de Montesquieu
Impelled
Abuse
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More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

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When a government lasts a long while, it deteriorates by insensible degrees. Republics end through luxury, monarchies through poverty.
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[The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread... and a thousand other things of the same kind.
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If the triangles made a god, they would give him three sides.
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Luxury ruins republics poverty, monarchies.
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Honor is unknown in despotic states.
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As men are affected in all ages by the same passions, the occasions which bring about great changes are different, but the causes are always the same.
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When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.
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The spirit of commerce... renders every man willing to live on his own property...& prevents the growth of luxury.
Baron de Montesquieu
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It is always the adventurous who accomplish great things.
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Man, as a physical being, is like other bodies governed by invariable laws.
Baron de Montesquieu
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There are countries where a man is worth nothing there are others where he is worth less than nothing.
Baron de Montesquieu
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Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
Baron de Montesquieu
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The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.
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Solemnity is the shield of idiots
Baron de Montesquieu
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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
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Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order for him to have this liberty the government must be such that one citizen cannot fear another citizen.
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The Christian religion is a stranger to mere despotic power. The mildness so frequently recommended in the Gospel is incompatible with the despotic rage.
Baron de Montesquieu
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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
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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
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Virtue in a republic is the love of one's country, that is the love of equality.
Baron de Montesquieu