“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.”
- January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755
- French
- Political Philosopher, Jurist, Author of The Spirit of the Laws
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Quote
“There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.”
Explanation
Montesquieu warns that the most dangerous form of oppression is not brute force, but tyranny disguised as legality and righteousness. When injustice is carried out under the appearance of law, it gains legitimacy, making it harder to recognize, resist, or condemn. This type of tyranny deceives the public by cloaking abuse in noble language, transforming law from a shield of liberty into a weapon of control.
In The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu consistently argues that laws must be just, and their purpose must be to protect individual freedom and prevent the concentration of power. When laws are twisted to serve the ambitions of rulers or to suppress dissent, they betray their fundamental purpose. The perversion of justice in the name of order or patriotism becomes not only a legal failure but a profound moral one.
In modern contexts, this quote resonates with state-sanctioned abuses like political imprisonment, discriminatory laws, or authoritarian regimes that manipulate legal systems to justify repression. Montesquieu’s insight reminds us that true justice cannot exist without vigilance, transparency, and a commitment to liberty. The law must serve the people—not the powerful—and when it fails to do so, it becomes the cruelest tool of tyranny.
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