Montesquieu Quotes

" "Les changements ne peuvent être faits que par le prince, ou par le peuple. Mais, là, les princes n'ont garde d'en faire,

The good sense and happiness of individuals largely consists in their having middling talents and fortunes. If a republic whose laws have formed many middling people is composed of sober people, it will be governed soberly; if it is composed of happy people, it will be very happy.

Commerce is a cure for the most destructive prejudices; for it is almost a general rule, that wherever we find agreeable manners, there commerce flourishes; and that wherever there is commerce, there we meet with agreeable manners.

Ces monarques sont comme le soleil, qui porte partout la chaleur et la vie.

In the end, the public renders justice. Here’s the reason: the votes of the wise are constant, but fools’ votes are various, change constantly, and cancel each other out.

Il n'y a pas de nation aussi puissante que celle qui obéit à ses lois non pas par des principes de peur ou de raison, mais par passion.

en fait de religion, les plus proches sont les plus grandes ennemies.

They maintain that all unlimited power must be unlawful, because it cannot have had a lawful origin. For, we cannot, say they, give to another more power over us than we ourselves have : now, we have not unlimited power over ourselves ; for example, we have no right to take our own lives: no one upon earth then, they conclude, had such a power.

As-tu bien réfléchi à l'état barbare et malheureux où nous entraînerait la perte des arts ?

Superioritatea dragostei asupra dezmăţului provine din înmulţirea plăcerilor. Toate gândurile, dorinţele, simţămintele devin reciproce. În dragoste, aveţi două trupuri şi două suflete ; în desfrâu, aveţi un suflet care se scârbeşte chiar de propriul său trup.

La nature, industrieuse en faveur des hommes, ne s'est pas bornée à leur donner les désirs : elle a voulu que nous en eussions nous-mêmes,

" "On s'étonne de ce qu'il n'y a presque jamais de changement dans le gouvernement des princes d'Orient. D'où vient cela, si ce n'est de ce qu'il est tyrannique et affreux ?

We were born in a flourishing realm, but we did not believe that its boundaries were those of our knowledge.

The less men think, the more they talk.

Les êtres particuliers intelligents peuvent avoir des lois qu'ils ont faites; mais ils en ont aussi qu'ils
n'ont pas faites.