Montesquieu Quotes

Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.

Taiwan is democratic.

America's greatest contribution to the world is its concept of democracy, its concept of freedom, freedom of action, freedom of speech, and freedom of thought.

Freedom of opinion is a valuable asset in a democracy.

Individual liberty depends upon keeping government under control.

Liberty and equality are magical words.

In the long and dogged crusade that the human race has fought in favor of democracy, the ideal of liberty, of freedom, has always been the goal.

Liberty and good government do not exclude each other; and there are excellent reasons why they should go together. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end.

Since the uprisings in the Middle East many scholars have come out saying that freedom comes first before the Shariah. There is also something important that we must keep in mind in our understanding the Shariah, and that is the room for what is permissible should be as wide as possible. So we should leave it open to let people be creative.

Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with reason and justice.

My message is simple - freedom works a lot better than the authoritarian style of government.

Political freedom is, or ought to be, the best guaranty for the safety and continuance of spiritual, mental, and civil freedom. It is the combination of numbers to secure the liberty to each one.

I have very little experience of self-government. In fact, I am one of the most governed people in the world.

Government should work to insure the rights of the individual, not plot to take them away.

Free societies are societies in which the right of dissent is protected.

I chose America as my home because I value freedom and democracy, civil liberties and an open society.

Freedom is popular. Bring it on.

If one is going to err, one should err on the side of liberty and freedom.

I'm a big advocate of freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of thought.

Democracies have been, and governments called, free; but the spirit of independence and the consciousness of unalienable rights, were never before transfused into the minds of a whole people....The feeling of equality which they proudly cherish does not proceed from an ignorance of their station, but from the knowledge of their rights; and it is this knowledge which will render it so exceedingly difficult for any tyrant ever to triumph over the liberties of our country.

Anarchy stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraints of government.

We are blessed with more liberty than just about any other civilized people in history

Liberty and Independence forever.

It is our purpose to respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live and to see sovereign rights and self-government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them.

Freedom of expression is the foundation of a civil society …. This will come.