193 Quotes by Baron de Montesquieu

If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are.

The less luxury there is in a republic, the more it is perfect.

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.

The state is the association of men, and not men themselves; the citizen may perish, and the man remain.

Each citizen contributes to the revenues of the State a portion of his property in order that his tenure of the rest may be secure.

Slowness is frequently the cause of much greater slowness.

I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.

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

To lend money without interest, is certainly an action laudable and extremely good; but it is obvious, that it is only a counsel of religion, and not a civil law.