Charles de Secondat Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

“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.”

“Raillery is a mode of speaking in favor of one's wit at the expense of one's better nature.”

“The deterioration of a government begins almost always by the decay of its principles.”

“The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed.”

“A man should be mourned at his birth, not at his death.”

“Do you think that God will punish them for not practicing a religion which he did not reveal to them?”

“Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Happy the people whose annals are tiresome.”