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It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.

Baron de Montesquieu

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Baron de Montesquieu
Clear
Direction
Entrusted
Government
Thinks
Commands
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Monarchy
Person
Laws
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Thinking
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Sensible
Democracy
Command
Virtue
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Law
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More quotes by 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.
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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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Republics end through luxury monarchies through poverty.
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An injustice committed against anyone is a threat to everyone.
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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.
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The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind.
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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.
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Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.
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Law should be like death, which spares no one.
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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.
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Honor is unknown in despotic states.
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To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight.
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It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.
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An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.
Baron de Montesquieu
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There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.
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Sometimes a man who deserves to be looked upon because he is a fool is despised only because he is a lawyer.
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Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.
Baron de Montesquieu
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No kingdom has shed more blood than the kingdom of Christ.
Baron de Montesquieu
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I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
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.
Baron de Montesquieu