Quote

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

Baron de Montesquieu

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Baron de Montesquieu
Impelled
Abuse
Evil
Power
Every
Men

More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

Image
The incomparable stupidity of life teaches us to love our parents divine philosophy teaches us to forgive them.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
An injustice committed against anyone is a threat to everyone.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
The Ottoman Empire whose sick body was not supported by a mild and regular diet, but by a powerful treatment, which continually exhausted it.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Fain would I glide down a gentle river, but I am carried away by a torrent.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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
Image
Experience constantly proves that every man who has power is impelled to abuse it he goes on till he is pulled up by some limits. Who would say it! virtue even has need of limits.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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
Image
Vanity and pride of nations vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
As virtue is necessary in a republic, and honor in a monarchy, fear is what is required in a despotism. As for virtue, it is not at all necessary, and honor would be dangerous there.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
There is as yet no liberty if the power of judging be not separated from legislative power and the executrix
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
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
Image
Democracy has two excesses to avoid: the spirit of inequality, which leads to an aristocracy, or to the government of a single individual and the spirit of extreme equality, which conducts it to despotism, as the despotism of a single individual finishes by conquest.
Baron de Montesquieu
Image
[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.
Baron de Montesquieu