"The laws of Rome had wisely divided public power among a large number of magistracies, which supported, checked and tempered each other. Since they all had only limited power, every citizen was qualified for them, and the people — seeing many persons pass before them one after the other — did not grow accustomed to any in particular. But in these times the system of the republic changed. Through the people the most powerful men gave themselves extraordinary commissions — which destroyed the authority of the people and magistrates, and placed all great matters in the hands of one man, or a few."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Chapter XI.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Montesquieu
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Montesquieu
Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (18 January 1689 – 10 February 1755), also known as Charles de Montesquieu, was a French political thinker who lived during the Enlightenment and is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers.
45 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Montesquieu →
Related Quotes
"In a free nation, it matters not whether individuals reason well or ill; it is sufficient that they do reason. Truth …"
"Il n’y a point de plus cruelle tyrannie que celle que l’on exerce à l’ombre des lois et avec les couleurs de la justi…"
"Not to be loved is a misfortune, but it is an insult to be loved no longer."
"[The Ottoman Empire] whose sick body was not supported by a mild and regular diet, but by a powerful treatment, which…"
"[The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread...and a thousand o…"
"I can assure you that no kingdom has ever had as many civil wars as the kingdom of Christ."
"Do you think that God will punish them for not practicing a religion which he did not reveal to them?"
"A man should be mourned at his birth, not at his death."
"In France there are three kinds of professions: the church, the sword, and the long robe. Each hath a sovereign conte…"
"If one only wished to be Sad, this could be horrible for the rest of civilisation; but we wish to be happier than oth…"