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.

Quote by Charles De Montesquieu

Topics: Charles De Montesquieu Quotes

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen.

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen.

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

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

An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists...

An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists...

There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from...

There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from...

Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without...

Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without...

Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.

Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.

What orators lack in depth they make up for in length.

What orators lack in depth they make up for in length.

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits

An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.

An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.

Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.

Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to...

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to...

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.

The best example of democracy I can recall is five wolves sitting down to dinner...

The best example of democracy I can recall is five wolves sitting down to dinner...

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

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

Laws undertake to punish only overt acts

Laws undertake to punish only overt acts

The severity of the laws prevents their execution.

The severity of the laws prevents their execution.

The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.

The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.

The less men think, the more they talk.

The less men think, the more they talk.

There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law...

There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law...