“Power ought to serve as a check to power.”
- January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755
- French
- Political Philosopher, Jurist, Author of The Spirit of the Laws
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Quote
“Power ought to serve as a check to power.”
Explanation
Montesquieu asserts that the only true safeguard against tyranny is the balancing of one power against another. This idea forms the cornerstone of his political theory: no single entity—whether monarch, legislature, or judiciary—should be allowed unchecked authority. By structuring government so that each branch can limit the others, liberty is preserved and abuse is restrained.
This principle was most fully developed in The Spirit of the Laws, where Montesquieu examined different forms of government and concluded that the separation of powers is essential to political freedom. His work directly influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution and inspired democratic systems around the world. By institutionalizing mutual oversight, governments can protect citizens from arbitrary rule and ensure accountability.
In modern democracies, this concept is foundational. Legislatures make laws, executives enforce them, and judiciaries interpret them—each limiting the others to prevent concentration of power. Montesquieu’s insight remains vital: without internal restraints, power grows corrupt; with them, it becomes a force for justice. His enduring lesson is that freedom depends not on the virtue of rulers, but on the structure of institutions.
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