Montesquieu Quotes

What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions.

A republican government can only be supported by virtue; and the end of all our legislation should be to encourage our fellow citizens in its daily practice.

Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.

The ages of greatest public spirit are not always eminent for private virtue.

Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.

Politics is not the nicest business, but there are still times when people do the right thing.

Citizens do not just make up and preserve a Republic; they are its ultimate stakeholders and in fact pillars.

The good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man.

The only foundation of a free Constitution, is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People, in a great Measure, than they have it now. They may change their Rulers, and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting Liberty.

Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks-no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea, if there be sufficient virtue and intelligence in the community, it will be exercised in the selection of these men. So that we do not depend on their virtue, or put confidence in our rulers, but in the people who are to choose them.

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

The era of big government is over, but the era of big challenge is not. We need an era of big citizenship. There are many important people at this summit, but the most important title is 'citizen.' This is our republic. Let us keep it!

There is no perfecter endowment in man than political virtue.

When men are pure, laws are useless; when men are corrupt, laws are broken.

The Founders warned that a free society depends on a virtuous and moral people. The current crisis reflects that their concerns were justified.

Good government is the outcome of private virtue.

To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.

Democracy without morality is impossible.

The government is us; we are the government, you and I.

There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.

I feel it's a person's duty to participate in the governing of the country in which he lives.

To do nothing evil is good; to wish nothing evil is better.

If vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established.

In the long run, the public interest depends on private virtue.

A man who aspires to any high office should have three qualifications: first, he should be prepared to support the constitution of his country; second, he should have a special aptitude for the office he desires; and third, he should have virtue and justice as they are understood by his fellow citizens.