Montesquieu

"Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations."

"It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption."

"Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people."

"Peace is a natural effect of trade."

"Power ought to serve as a check to power."

"Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance... the spread of which can only be regarded as the total eclipse of human reason."

"Society is the union of men and not the men themselves."

"Success in the majority of circumstances depends on knowing how long it takes to succeed."

"The less men think, the more they talk."

"We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death."

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