French - Philosopher | January 18, 1689 - February 10, 1755
There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.
Montesquieu
JusticeLawNameTyrannyShield
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.
DemocracyTyrannyDangerousCitizen
To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
GreatPeopleStandBecomeAbove
When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.
BodyPersonLibertySameLegislative
Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.
UselessLawsNecessaryWeaken
There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion.
FearPassionPowerfulReasonNation
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.
ReligionSpiritMoreHumanReason
Power ought to serve as a check to power.
PowerCheckServeOught
If triangles had a god, they would give him three sides.
GodThreeSidesHimGiveWould
If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.
HappyPeopleBe HappyThinkEasy
In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
SuccessSucceedLongKnowingThings
Talent is a gift which God has given us secretly, and which we reveal without perceiving it.
GodTalentGiftWithoutRevealUs
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