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Single Idea 19977
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / c. Despotism
]
Full Idea
How could a despot permit honour? Honour depends upon scorning life; the despot has power only because he can deprive men of life. How could honour tolerate the despot? Honour has fixed rules, ...but the despot has no rule.
Gist of Idea
Despotism and honour are incompatible, because honour scorns his power, and lives by rules
Source
Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757) [1748], 03.08)
Book Ref
Montesquieu,Baron de: 'Selected Political Writings', ed/tr. Richter,Melvin [Hackett 1990], p.131
A Reaction
The old German aristocracy seem to have been utterly alienated and isolated by the Nazi regime.
The
56 ideas
from 'The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757)'
19956
|
True goodness is political, and consists of love of and submission to the laws
[Montesquieu]
|
19957
|
Teaching is the best practice of the general virtue that leads us to love everyone
[Montesquieu]
|
19958
|
Laws are the necessary relations that derive from the nature of things
[Montesquieu]
|
19959
|
Prior to positive laws there is natural equity, of obedience, gratitude, dependence and merit
[Montesquieu]
|
19960
|
Sensation gives animals natural laws, but knowledge can make them break them
[Montesquieu]
|
19962
|
Men do not desire to subjugate one another; domination is a complex and advanced idea
[Montesquieu]
|
19961
|
Primitive people would be too vulnerable and timid to attack anyone, so peace would reign
[Montesquieu]
|
19963
|
People are drawn into society by needs, shared fears, pleasure, and knowledge
[Montesquieu]
|
19964
|
The natural power of a father suggests rule by one person, but that authority can be spread
[Montesquieu]
|
19965
|
The fundamental laws of a democracy decide who can vote
[Montesquieu]
|
19968
|
It is basic to a democracy that the people themselves must name their ministers
[Montesquieu]
|
19969
|
Voting should be public, so the lower classes can be influenced by the example of notable people
[Montesquieu]
|
19967
|
In a democracy the people should manage themselves, and only delegate what they can't do
[Montesquieu]
|
19966
|
A democratic assembly must have a fixed number, to see whether everyone has spoken
[Montesquieu]
|
19970
|
If the nobility is numerous, the senate is the artistocracy, and the nobles are a democracy
[Montesquieu]
|
19971
|
Aristocracy is democratic if they resemble the people, but not if they resemble the monarch
[Montesquieu]
|
19972
|
The nobility are an indispensable part of a monarchy
[Montesquieu]
|
19974
|
Monarchs must not just have links to the people; they need a body which maintains the laws
[Montesquieu]
|
19973
|
The clergy are essential to a monarchy, but dangerous in a republic
[Montesquieu]
|
19975
|
Despots are always lazy and ignorant, so they always delegate their power to a vizier
[Montesquieu]
|
19976
|
Ambition is good in a monarchy, because the monarch can always restrain it
[Montesquieu]
|
19977
|
Despotism and honour are incompatible, because honour scorns his power, and lives by rules
[Montesquieu]
|
19978
|
In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues
[Montesquieu]
|
19979
|
In monarchies education ennobles people, and in despotisms it debases them
[Montesquieu]
|
19980
|
If a government is to be preserved, it must first be loved
[Montesquieu]
|
19981
|
No one even thinks of equality in monarchies and despotism; they all want superiority
[Montesquieu]
|
19982
|
Some equality can be achieved by social categories, combined with taxes and poor relief
[Montesquieu]
|
19983
|
Democracies may sometimes need to restrict equality
[Montesquieu]
|
19984
|
Great inequality between aristocrats and the rest is bad - and also among aristocrats themselves
[Montesquieu]
|
19985
|
In a monarchy, the nobility must be hereditary, to bind them together
[Montesquieu]
|
19986
|
Monarchies can act more quickly, because one person is in charge
[Montesquieu]
|
19987
|
Religion has the most influence in despotic states, and reinforces veneration for the ruler
[Montesquieu]
|
19988
|
A despot's agents must be given power, so they inevitably become corrupt
[Montesquieu]
|
19989
|
The will of a despot is an enigma, so magistrates can only follow their own will
[Montesquieu]
|
19990
|
Democracy is corrupted by lack of equality, or by extreme equality (between rulers and ruled)
[Montesquieu]
|
19991
|
Equality is not command by everyone or no one, but command and obedience among equals
[Montesquieu]
|
19993
|
In small republics citizens identify with the public good, and abuses are fewer
[Montesquieu]
|
19992
|
In a large republic there is too much wealth for individuals to manage it
[Montesquieu]
|
19994
|
Freedom in society is ability to do what is right, and not having to do what is wrong
[Montesquieu]
|
19995
|
All states aim at preservation, and then have distinctive individual purposes
[Montesquieu]
|
19996
|
A government has a legislature, an international executive, and a domestic executive
[Montesquieu]
|
19997
|
The judiciary must be separate from the legislature, to avoid arbitrary power
[Montesquieu]
|
19999
|
All citizens (apart from the very humble poor) should choose their representatives
[Montesquieu]
|
19998
|
If deputies represent people, they are accountable, but less so if they represent places
[Montesquieu]
|
20000
|
Slavery is entirely bad; the master abandons the virtues, and they are pointless in the slave
[Montesquieu]
|
20003
|
Slaves are not members of the society, so no law can forbid them to run away
[Montesquieu]
|
20001
|
The only right victors have over captives is the protection of the former
[Montesquieu]
|
20002
|
The death penalty is permissible, because its victims enjoyed the protection of that law
[Montesquieu]
|
20004
|
French slavery was accepted because it was the best method of religious conversion
[Montesquieu]
|
20005
|
The rich would never submit to a lottery deciding which part of their society should be slaves
[Montesquieu]
|
20006
|
The demand for slavery is just the masters' demand for luxury
[Montesquieu]
|
20007
|
Tyranny is either real violence, or the imposition of unpopular legislation
[Montesquieu]
|
20008
|
People are guided by a multitude of influences, from which the spirit of a nation emerges
[Montesquieu]
|
20009
|
Freedom of speech and writing, within the law, is essential to preserve liberty
[Montesquieu]
|
20010
|
If religion teaches determinism, penalties must be severe; if free will, then that is different
[Montesquieu]
|
20011
|
Religion can support the state when the law fails to do so
[Montesquieu]
|