Baron de Montesquieu

The world is not governed by prime ministers, but by the spirit of the age.

The less a people know, the more they believe.

The best way to make laws is to make them few.

It is not the size of the army, but the spirit of the army, that conquers.

Every man is born with a right to liberty, and to the enjoyment of his own property.

The most important service that can be rendered to the state is to educate its youth.

The love of equality in a democracy is the love of frugality.

The laws of a country should be adapted to the climate, to the quality of the soil, to its situation and extent, to the principal occupation of the natives, whether husbandmen, hunters, or shepherds: they should have relation to the degree of liberty which the constitution will bear; to the religion of the inhabitants, to their inclinations, riches, numbers, commerce, manners, and customs.

The people are the best judges of their own interest.

It is not the business of the government to make us virtuous, but to make us free.

If the triangles made a God, they would give him three sides.

Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.

Liberty is the right of doing whatever the laws permit.

The political liberty of the subject is a tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person has of his safety. In order to have this liberty, it is sufficient that the government be such that one citizen cannot fear another citizen.

Constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty.

In republican governments, men are all equal; they have the same rights, and share the same privileges.

The spirit of commerce brings with it the spirit of industry, and spreads it through all the ramifications of society.

Religion and government are certainly very different things.

How can anyone be Persian?