Historical Figure
Montesquieu
1689–1755
French judge, historian, and political philosopher (1689–1755)
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Biography
Charles Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French judge, intellectual, historian, and political philosopher.
Timeline
The story of Montesquieu, told in moments.
Born Charles-Louis de Secondat near Bordeaux. His family was minor nobility, rich enough to own vineyards. A beggar woman was chosen as his godmother so he'd remember that the poor existed. He remembered.
Publishes Persian Letters anonymously. Two fictional Persians visit Paris and write home about what they see. French society is ridiculous, they report. The satire is devastating and wildly popular. Everyone knows who wrote it. He pretends otherwise.
Publishes The Spirit of the Laws after twenty years of work. The separation of powers. Checks and balances. Climate theory. It's 31 books long. The Catholic Church bans it. The American Founders read it like a manual. Madison quotes it in the Federalist Papers.
Dies in Paris at 66. Nearly blind by the end. Diderot visits him on his deathbed. The Spirit of the Laws has been translated into every European language. The U.S. Constitution is written 32 years later. His fingerprints are on every article.
In Their Own Words (20)
You have to study a great deal to know a little.
1899
Translation: If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it to my prince, for I am first a man and only then a Frenchman, because I am necessarily a man, and only accidentally am I French.
1899
If one only wished to be Sad, this could be horrible for the rest of civilisation; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are.
As quoted in A Dictionary of Thoughts: Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors, Both Ancient and Modern (1891) edited by Tryon Edwards., 1891
The laws of Rome had wisely divided public power among a large number of magistracies, which supported, checked and tempered each other. Since they all had only limited power, every citizen was qualified for them, and the people — seeing many persons pass before them one after the other — did not grow accustomed to any in particular. But in these times the system of the republic changed. Through the people the most powerful men gave themselves extraordinary commissions — which destroyed the authority of the people and magistrates, and placed all great matters in the hands of one man, or a few.
Chapter XI., 1876
No tyranny is more cruel than the one practiced in the shadow of the laws and under color of justice — when, so to speak, one proceeds to drown the unfortunate on the very plank by which they had saved themselves.
1876
Artifacts (8)
Composite Group Portrait of Touring Lecturers for the American Literary Bureau
American Literary Bureau
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