Quotes by Charles de Montesquieu

“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”

“A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy”

“The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants, and it provides the further advantage of giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience”

“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.”

“Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner”

“Monarchy degenerates into tyranny, aristocracy into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence and chaos”

“Peace without justice is tyranny.”

“There is a secret pride in every human heart that revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.”

“We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death.”

“It is always the adventurous who accomplish great things”

“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”

“No kingdom has shed more blood than the kingdom of Christ”

“The less men think, the more they talk”

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

“An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations.”

“An absolute ruler is an undesireable leader.”

“Vitam Impendere Vero (I consecrate my life to truth).”

“I hear its the Hebrew in Heaven, sir. Spanish is seldom spoken.”

“I have always observed that to succeed in the world a person must seem simple, yet wise.”

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century