Montesquieu Quotes

Man, as a physical being, is like other bodies governed by invariable laws.

In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.

In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state.

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.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.

If triangles had a god, they would give him three sides.

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

Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.

I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise.

It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires.

Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half.