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Baron de Montesquieu

Baron de Montesquieu Quotes

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Baron de Montesquieu, a French Enlightenment thinker, jurist, historian, and politician, was born on January 18, 1689, and died on February 10, 1755. He is one of the most important thinkers in the history of Western political thought, known for his contributions to the theory of the separation of powers.

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Famous Baron de Montesquieu Quotes

“Democracy has two excesses to avoid: the spirit of inequality, which leads to an aristocracy, or to the government of a single individual; and the spirit of extreme equality, which conducts it to despotism, as the despotism of a single individual finishes by conquest.”

Two Wisdom Government Spirit Politics Individual Economy Democracy Extremes Inequality Liberalism Excess Conquest Aristocracy Despotism Democracies Have

Author:Baron de Montesquieu

“A love of the republic in a democracy is a love of the democracy, as the latter is that of equality. A love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality. Since every individual ought here to enjoy the same happiness, and the same advantages, they should consequently taste the same pleasures and form the same hopes, which cannot be expected but from a general frugality.”

Should Form Individual Enjoy Pleasure Democracy Ought Taste Advantage Expected Latter Republic Frugality

Book:The Spirit of Laws

Source: The Spirit of Laws

“There is still another inconvenieney in conquests made by democracies; their government is ever odious to the conquered states. It is apparently monarchical, but in reality it is more oppressive than monarchy, as the experience of all ages and countries evinces.”

Made Stills Country States Reality Government Age Democracy Conquest Monarchy

Author:Baron de Montesquieu

“It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.”

Thinking Persons Government Law Virtue Democracy Clear Subjects Command Sensible Execution Monarchy

Author:Baron de Montesquieu

“Democracy is corrupted not only when the spirit of equality is corrupted, but likewise when they fall into a spirit of extreme equality.”

Spirit Fall Democracy Extremes

Book:The Spirit of Laws

Source: The Spirit of Laws

“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.”

Wisdom Politics Economy Democracy Dangerous Citizens Tyranny Welfare Liberalism Apathy Oligarchy Liberty And Justice Public Welfare Indifference And Apathy

Author:Baron de Montesquieu

“Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy; love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.”

Democracy Equality

Author:Baron de Montesquieu

“When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.”

People Body Politics Democracy Supreme Possessed Nerd Supreme Power

Book:The Spirit of Laws

Source: The Spirit of Laws

About the Author

Born: January 18, 1689
Died: February 10, 1755
Known for: Author
Quotes: 226

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