Check out the best Montesquieu quotes that reflect his timeless wisdom on liberty, justice, law, and the balance of power.
Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, was a French judge, writer, and political philosopher whose revolutionary ideas laid the foundation for modern democratic governance.
Born in 1689, he is best known for his influential work The Spirit of Laws, which introduced the concept of the separation of powers – a principle that continues to define democratic governments around the world, including the United States.
A leading figure of the Enlightenment, Montesquieu believed that true freedom could only exist when power was balanced, justice was upheld, and citizens acted with virtue.
Beyond politics, his writings also reflected a deep understanding of human nature, morality, and society. Through his wisdom, Montesquieu continues to inspire generations to value liberty, reason, and ethical governance.
Here are the most powerful Montesquieu quotes that inspire reflection, challenge authority, and celebrate the spirit of freedom.
Top 10 Montesquieu Quotes
- “The less men think, the more they talk.” — Montesquieu
- “Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” — Montesquieu
- “The love of democracy is that of equality.” — Montesquieu
- “Power ought to serve as a check to power.” — Montesquieu
- “Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.” — Montesquieu
- “An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.” — Montesquieu
- “To succeed in the world we must look foolish but be wise.” — Montesquieu
- “An injustice committed against anyone is a threat to everyone.” — Montesquieu
- “To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.” — Montesquieu
- “In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.” — Montesquieu
Best Baron de Montesquieu Quotes
- “The more laws, the less justice.” — Montesquieu
- “The less men think, the more they talk.” — Montesquieu
- “If triangles made a God, they would give him three sides.” — Montesquieu
- “A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.” — Montesquieu
- “I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.” — Montesquieu
- “In the state of nature, all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality.” — Montesquieu
- “The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.” — Montesquieu
- “There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.” — Montesquieu
- “It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.” — Montesquieu
- “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.” — Montesquieu
Famous Montesquieu Quotes
- “Solemnity is the shield of idiots.” — Montesquieu
- “Freedom is the right to do whatever the laws permit.” — Montesquieu
- “Countries are well cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.” — Montesquieu
- “I should like to abolish funerals; the time to mourn a person is at his birth, not his death.” — Montesquieu
- “The monarchy is the system where a single person governs by fixed and established laws.” — Montesquieu
- “Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.” — Montesquieu
- “Religious wars are not caused by the existence of several religions, but by the spirit of intolerance.” — Montesquieu
- “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.” — Montesquieu
- “That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth. They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow.” — Montesquieu
- “When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty.” — Montesquieu
Conclusion
What are your favorite Montesquieu quotes and Montesquieu sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed, then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
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