Charles de Montesquieu
Charles de Montesquieu
Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French lawyer, man of letters, and political philosopher who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. He is also known for doing more than any other author to secure the place of the word despotism in the political lexicon...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth18 January 1689
CountryFrance
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.
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.
Men should be bewailed at their birth, and not at their death.
Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight.
The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear.
An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations.
If the triangles made a god, they would give him three sides.
Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.
It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires.
We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death.
Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.
A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.