Charles De Secondat, (1689 - 1755) Quotes

If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.

We receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school-masters, and one from the world. The third contradicts all that the first two teach us.

I've never known any trouble than an hour's reading didn't assuage.

Commerce is the cure for the most destructive prejudices.

In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also is despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing.

Peace is a natural effect of trade.

If the triangles made a god, they would give him three sides.

What orators lack in depth, they make up to you in length.

An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.