Montesquieu Quotes

So far is it from being true that men are naturally equal, that no two people can be half an hour together, but one shall acquire an evident superiority over the other.

All Society therefore is either for Gain, or for Glory; (i.e.) not so much for love of our Fellowes

A man is a man, on a throne or in a pigsty.

The poor yield to the rich, the common people to the upper ten, the servants to their masters, the ignorant to the scholars; but there is nobody who does not imagine that he is really better than others.

Elites quite naturally define as the most important and admired qualities for a citizen those on which they themselves have concentrated.

Their authority over their slaves renders them vain and imperious.

In speeches to negroes you must remember that argument has no effect upon them: they can only be influenced by their fears, superstition and cupidity. Do not attempt to flatter and persuade them.... Treat them so as to show them you are the superior race, and that their natural position is that of subordination to the white man.

With most people, strangers are not only enemies, but inferiors.

Men and nations cannot bear to feel inferior.

What makes equality such a difficult business is that we only want it with our superiors.

The Pedigree of Honey Does not concern the Bee- A Clover, any time, to him, Is Aristocracy-

Men love power.

Kings need the company of the intelligent far more than the intelligent need the company of kings.

One of the most constant laws of history is … immediately [if] any one class becomes preponderant—nobles, clergy, army, or the people—it speedily tends to enslave others.

Wild beasts hate nets, and people hate their superiors.

Absolute power should never be trusted to man. It has perverted the wisest heads, and corrupted the best hearts in the world. I should be afraid to commit my property, liberty and life to a body of angels for one whole year.

All men are created equal in one respect, at least, and that is their desire to be unequal.

Order is Heaven's first law, and this confessed, Some are, and must be greater than the rest -

The Inca honored the men of the blood royal by permitting them to bore their ears where women do today, but with larger holes … and this was the sign of nobility and royal caste ...

Among the emasculation men fear most is subordination to women.

How many, even of the better sort, would choose to be slaves to those above them, provided they might exercise an arbitrary and tyrannical rule over all below them?

I only want to debate people who are more powerful than I am.

I think that, like the show 'Game of Thrones,' our fascination with power struggles is pretty unanimous.

There is always a human being behind the titles and the status.

There is this brutal side to tennis. It was invented as a game for kings and cardinals and people with a lot of power who didn't have to share the field with other players.