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Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.

Baron de Montesquieu

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Baron de Montesquieu
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More quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

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In republican governments, men are all equal equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything in the latter, because they are nothing.
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Republics end through luxury monarchies through poverty.
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Virtue in a republic is the love of one's country, that is the love of equality.
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I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise.
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I never listen to calumnies, because if they are untrue I run the risk of being deceived, and if they be true, of hating persons not worth thinking about.
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A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.
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Solemnity is the shield of idiots
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What cowardice it is to be dismayed by the happiness of others and devastated by there good fortune.
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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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Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.
Baron de Montesquieu
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Man is a social animal formed to please in society.
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Men in excess of happiness or misery are equally inclined to severity. Witness conquerors and monks! It is mediocrity alone, and a mixture of prosperous and adverse fortune that inspire us with lenity and pity.
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Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.
Baron de Montesquieu
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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.
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Human laws made to direct the will ought to give precepts, and not counsels.
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The life of man is but a succession of vain hopes and groundless fears.
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When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a despotic government.
Baron de Montesquieu
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The state is the association of men, and not men themselves the citizen may perish, and the man remain.
Baron de Montesquieu
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Great commanders write their actions with simplicity because they receive more glory from facts than from words.
Baron de Montesquieu
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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