Montesquieu Quotes

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty.

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.

He who has the greatest power put into his hands will only become the more impatient of any restraint in the use of it.

Yes, citizens, Iturbide was a traitor, a hypocrite and an impious man who destroyed the assembly in which the people had deposited their sovereignty in order to appropriate it all to himself

There is no liberty, if the power of judging be not separated from the legislative and executive powers.

Nor is there liberty if the power of judging is not separated from legislative power and from executive power. If it [the power of judging] were joined to legislative power, the power over life and liberty of the citizens would be arbitrary, for the judge would be the legislature if it were joined to the executive power, the judge could have the force of an oppressor. All would be lost if the same … body of principal men … exercised these three powers

A collective tyrant, spread over the length and breadth of the land, is no more acceptable than a single tyrant ensconced on his throne.

Every tyrant who has lived has believed in freedom for himself.

You can't become a dictator through checks and balances.

I would not like a king who could obey.

I admit that what you have just heard might be for the welfare of the country, were it not that the presence of despotism are always dangerous.

All executive power --- from the reign of ancient kings to the rule of modern dictators --- has the outward appearance of efficiency

This administration seems intent on accumulating unchecked power.

In all tyrannical governments the supreme magistracy, or the right both of making and of enforcing the laws, is vested in one and the same man, or one and the same body of men; and whenever these two powers are united together, there can be no public liberty.

... a tissue of machinations against the liberties of the country.

The tyranny of the legislatures is the most formidable dread at present, and will be for many years. That of the executive will come in turn; but it will be at a remote period.

There is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. Were it joined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject would be exposed to arbitrary control; for the judge would then be the legislator. Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and oppression.

Enormous monarchies are probably destructive to human nature in their progress, in their continuance and even in their own downfall.

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.

... a consolidation of unchecked and despotic power in the House of Representatives ...

When politicians don black robes and seize powers they do not have, they should be called out for what they are - usurpers and petty tyrants.

Despotism has so often been established in the name of liberty that experience should warn us to judge parties by their practices rather than their preachings.

I hold it to be the most monstrous proposition ever uttered within the Senate that conquering a country like Mexico, the President can constitute himself a despotic ruler without the slightest limitation on his power. If all this be true, war is indeed dangerous!

Enlightened despots are mythical creatures; real despots seem more interested in stealing money or installing their sons after them.

Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.