The incomparable stupidity of life teaches us to love our parents; divine philosophy teaches us to forgive them.
Baron de MontesquieuWe receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school-masters, and one from the world. The third contradicts all that the first two teach us.
Baron de MontesquieuChristianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood.
Baron de MontesquieuThey who love to inform themselves, are never idle. Though I have no business of consequence to take care of, I am nevertheless continually employed. I spend my life in examining things: I write down in the evening whatever I have remarked, what I have seen, and what I have heard in the day: every thing engages my attention, and every thing excites my wonder: I am like an infant, whose organs, as yet tender, are strongly affected by the slightest objects.
Baron de MontesquieuChristians are beginning to lose the spirit of intolerance which animated them: experience has shown the error of the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, and of the persecution of those Christians in France whose belief differed a little from that of the king. They have realized that zeal for the advancement of religion is different from a due attachment to it; and that in order to love it and fulfil its behests, it is not necessary to hate and persecute those who are opposed to it.
Baron de Montesquieu