The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy. – Charles de Montesquieu
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
There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life; but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window. – Charles de Montesquieu
Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed. – Charles de Montesquieu
The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions. – Charles de Montesquieu
Friendship is an arrangement by which we undertake to exchange small favors for big ones. – Charles de Montesquieu
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
If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are. – Charles de Montesquieu
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
In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state. – Charles de Montesquieu
Author: A fool who, not content with having bored those who have lived with him, insists on tormenting generations to come. – Charles de Montesquieu
The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear. – Charles de Montesquieu
It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires. – Charles de Montesquieu
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
