Baron de Montesquieu
A French judge and political philosopher whose 'The Spirit of the Laws' advocated for the separation of powers within government to prevent tyranny, profoundly influencing the U.S. Constitution.
Quotes by Baron de Montesquieu
Laws are like cobwebs, which catch the small flies, but let the big ones go.
In a democracy, the people are the sovereign; in a monarchy, the prince is the sovereign.
The more a government is moderate, the more it is established on principles of liberty.
Virtue is the principle of democracy.
Honor is the principle of monarchy.
Fear is the principle of despotism.
The laws of commerce are the laws of nature.
If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it.
The state of slavery is in its own nature bad.
Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.
The Christian religion is a stranger to mere despotic power.
Men must be ready to die for the common good.
The corruption of the best things gives birth to the worst.
A man cannot govern himself unless he is master of himself.
The greatness of the empire is not in the extent of its territory, but in the obedience to its laws.
Republics come to have the vices of democracies and monarchies.
The English have an established government, a solid constitution, and laws which they do not change every year.
In every government there are three powers: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.
There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the strict forms of justice.
The right of peace and war is in the nation.