Charles de Secondat
Charles de Secondat
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
People here argue about religion interminably, but it appears that they are competing at the same time to see who can be the least devout.
Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.
A man should be mourned at his birth, not at his death.
There is only one thing that can form a bond between men, and that is gratitude... we cannot give someone else greater power over us than we have ourselves.
Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.
Power ought to serve as a check to power.
Liberty is the right of doing whatever the laws permit.
But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.
There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.
The law of nations is naturally founded on this principle, that different nations ought in time of peace to do one another all the good they can, and in time of war as little injury as possible, without prejudicing their real interests.
Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance... the spread of which can only be regarded as the total eclipse of human reason.
Weak minds exaggerate too much the wrong done to the Africans.
Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.
Not to be loved is a misfortune, but it is an insult to be loved no longer.