Charles de Secondat Power Quotations

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.

Slavery, properly so called, is the establishment of a right which gives to one man such a power over another as renders him absolute master of his life and fortune.

When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.

There is only one thing that can form a bond between men, and that is gratitude... we cannot give someone else greater power over us than we have ourselves.

Power ought to serve as a check to power.

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.