23 Quotes & Sayings By Charles De Montesquieu

Charles de Montesquieu (1689–1755) was a French lawyer, judge, and political philosopher. He is renowned for his theory of separation of powers, which limits the power of governments. His works include "L'Esprit des Lois", "De l'Esprit des Lois", "Du Pouvoir souverain", "Les Lettres persanes", and "Les Principes de la politique".

1
A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century Charles De Montesquieu
2
False happiness renders men stern and proud and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders kind and sensible and that happiness is always shared. Charles De Montesquieu
3
Success generally depends upon knowing how long it takes to succeed. Charles De Montesquieu
4
If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy but we want to be happier than other people which is almost always difficult since we think them happier than they are. Charles De Montesquieu
5
An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war. Charles De Montesquieu
6
We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death. Charles De Montesquieu
7
There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death. Charles De Montesquieu
8
Men should be bewailed at their birth, and not at their death. Charles De Montesquieu
9
It is not the young people that degenerate they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption. Charles De Montesquieu
10
False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared. Charles De Montesquieu
11
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. Charles De Montesquieu
12
The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions. Charles De Montesquieu
13
If triangles had a god, they would give him three sides. Charles De Montesquieu
14
There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion. Charles De Montesquieu
15
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve. Charles De Montesquieu
16
To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them. Charles De Montesquieu
17
Friendship is an arrangement by which we undertake to exchange small favors for big ones. Charles De Montesquieu
18
Peace is a natural effect of trade. Charles De Montesquieu
19
In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed. Charles De Montesquieu
20
Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed. Charles De Montesquieu
21
The less men think, the more they talk. Charles De Montesquieu
22
An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations. Charles De Montesquieu