I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
In the infancy of societies, the chiefs of state shape its institutions; later the institutions shape the chiefs of state.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the evolution of societies and how leadership influences institutions, which in turn shape future leaders.
Baron De Montesquieu's quote emphasizes the cyclical relationship between leadership and societal institutions. Initially, leaders create the structures that govern society; however, as these institutions mature, they begin to influence the characteristics and actions of future leaders. This interplay highlights the importance of both individuals and institutions in the development of a society over time.
Themes
LeadershipInstitutionsSocietyInfluencePower
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of institutional integrity in governance.
More from Baron De Montesquieu
All quotes βLaw in general is human reason, inasmuch as it governs all the inhabitants of the earth: the political and civil laws of each nation ought to be only the particular cases in which human reason is applied.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy; love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
Similar quotes
For age is opportunity no less Than youth itself, though in another dress, And as the evening twilight fades away The sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.
Henry Wadsworth LongfellowRead
A society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future. Let us strive to enhance their capacity to support themselves for as long as possible and, when they cannot do so anymore, to care for them.
Nelson MandelaRead
We make an idol of truth itself; for truth apart from charity is not God, but His image and idol, which we must neither love nor worship.
Blaise PascalRead
I am not a religious man. I have not attended a service for many years. But I do believe in God. My own practice of religion, you could say, it a nonpractice. I personally feel that it's just as worthy on a weekend to rake the lawns of an elderly neighbor or to climb a mountain and marvel at the beauty of this land we live in as it is to sing hosannas or go to Mass. In other words, I think every many finds his own church- and not all of them have four walls - Judge Haig (Page 399)
Jodi PicoultRead
Whitney wanted to eradicate the idea that in the case of a language we are dealing with a natural faculty; in fact, social institutions stand opposed to natural institutions.
Ferdinand De SaussureRead
Slowly the poison the whole blood stream fills. It is not the effort nor the failure tires. The waste remains, the waste remains and kills.
William EmpsonRead