I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
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.
Interpretation
True love for a democracy encompasses a deep respect for equality and simplicity in governance.
This quote by Montesquieu highlights the interconnected nature of love for a republic, democracy, and the fundamental principles of equality and frugality that support a just society. It suggests that genuine affection for democratic ideals entails valuing equal rights among citizens and a careful, modest approach to governance, ensuring that the people's needs are prioritized over extravagance and inequality.
In practice
During a speech about civic duty, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of valuing democracy.
I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
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.
To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.
Trade is the best cure for prejudice.
The only place where poverty should be is in museums.
Totally without hope, one cannot live. To live without hope is to cease to live.
Either something is authentic or it is unauthentic, it is either false or true, make-believe or spontaneous life; yet here we are faced with a prevaricated truth and an authentic fake, hence a thing that is at once the truth and a lie.
On the one hand, we are faced with the stewardship of this beautiful, subtle, incredibly delicate, fragile planet. On the other, we confront the destiny of our fellow man, our brothers. How can we say that we are followers of Christ if this dual responsibility does not seem to us the essence and heart of our religion?
The psychological basis of the metropolitan type of individuality consists in the intensification of nervous stimulation which results from the swift and uninterrupted change of outer and inner stimuli.
There has to be a common sense cutoff for craziness, and when that threshold is exceeded, then the criteria for publication should get far, far more stringent.
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