I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
This quote by Baron De Montesquieu highlights the tendency of individuals in power to misuse their authority. Experiencing or observing history reveals that when people are given power, they often exploit it beyond its intended limits, leading to potential abuse and loss of accountability.
Themes
PowerAbuseAuthorityCorruptionAccountability
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about political integrity, one might say, 'As Montesquieu noted, power is often abused.'
More from Baron De Montesquieu
All quotes →Law in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied.
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To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
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Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy; love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.
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It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
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