Charles de Montesquieu

Find the best quotes, maxims and aphorisms of Charles de Montesquieu

Biography : French man of letters and political philosopher.
Born: 1689 - Died: 1755
Period:
18th century
17th century
Place of birth: France
France

France

Charles de Montesquieu - Quotes

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.
Charles de Montesquieu - Persian Letters /

It is a thousand times easier to do good than to do it well.
Charles de Montesquieu - The Spirit of the Laws /

good

I have ever held it as a maxim, never to do that through another, which it was possible for me to execute myself.
Charles de Montesquieu /

It is not the young people that degenerate they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
Charles de Montesquieu

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
Charles de Montesquieu

An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.
Charles de Montesquieu

Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
Charles de Montesquieu

Peace is a natural effect of trade.
Charles de Montesquieu

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Charles de Montesquieu /

False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared.
Charles de Montesquieu

happiness

The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.
Charles de Montesquieu

The less men think, the more they talk.
Charles de Montesquieu

to think

Men should be bewailed at their birth, and not at their death.
Charles de Montesquieu

death

There is no nation so powerful, as the one that obeys its laws not from principals of fear or reason, but from passion.
Charles de Montesquieu

law

We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death.
Charles de Montesquieu

death

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

In most things success depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed.
Charles de Montesquieu

success

Friendship is an arrangement by which we undertake to exchange small favors for big ones.
Charles de Montesquieu