Montesquieu

"A nation's laws should prevent injustice, not merely punish it."

"The foundations of a lasting government are laid in justice."

"True liberty is the freedom to follow just laws."

"A wise government cultivates virtue in its citizens."

"The corruption of princes leads to the corruption of nations."

"The spirit of commerce should guide enlightened nations."

"A nation thrives when its laws serve the common good."

"The grandeur of Rome was built upon the foundation of law."

"Liberty is precious; it must be guarded vigilantly."

"The happiness of a people depends upon the justice of their laws."

"A free society balances order with liberty."

"The wealth of a nation is measured by the freedom of its people."

"Justice delayed is justice denied and virtue abandoned."

"The true mark of civilization is the absence of arbitrary power."

"The love of reading enables a man to exchange the tedious hours of life for hours of delight."

"Useless laws weaken necessary laws."

"If I knew something useful to my country but harmful to Europe, I would not reveal it."

"The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy and sluggishness of the citizens in a democracy."

"The severity of the magistrate is a severity against crime."

"In democracies, nothing is more dangerous than extreme patriotism."

"The appearance of right is the same as right."

"True courage consists in doing without witnesses what one could do before everyone."

"Commerce has softened the manners of men."

"The more we love our country, the more we work for our freedom."

"A state of slavery is a state of war."

"Laws are conditions under which men unite; they tend equally to the advantage of all."

"The greatest monarchies have commonly the most formidable neighbours."

"Excessive severity in punishing crime serves only to harden the criminal."

"The principle of despotism is fear; of monarchy, honor; of republic, virtue."

"When the rich make war, the poor die."