baron de montesquieu

“ Solemnity is the shield of idiots. ”

“ In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law. ”

“ Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations. ”

“ Very good laws may be ill-timed. ”

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

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

“ Every man is capable of doing good to another, but to contribute to the happiness of an entire society is to become akin to the gods. ”

“ The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed. ”

“ The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded. ”

“ Power ought to serve as a check to power. ”