Montesquieu

[ mon-tuh-skyoo; French mawn-tes-kyœ ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de la Brède et de Montesquieu, 1689–1755, French philosophical writer.

Montesquieu

/ mɔ̃tɛskjø /

Montesquieu, Baron de la Brède et de16891755MFrenchPHILOSOPHY: philosopher Baron de la Brède et de (barɔ̃ də la brɛd e də), title of Charles Louis de Secondat. 1689–1755, French political philosopher. His chief works are the satirical Lettres persanes (1721) and L'Esprit des lois (1748), a comparative analysis of various forms of government, which had a profound influence on political thought in Europe and the US

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He tends toward the wonky, goes heavy on historical references, and likes to quote folks like Montesquieu.

Montesquieu observes, “that women commonly reserve their love for their husbands until their husbands are dead.”

M. de Montesquieu was struck with this account, and on his departure made them a handsome present.

The finest specimens of such enquiries which we possess are the works of Adam Smith and Montesquieu.

The lazzaroni, remarked Montesquieu of the Neapolitan wont-works, pass their time in the middle of the street.

Montesquieu is declared by Mr. Saintsbury to deserve the title of "the greatest man of letters of the French eighteenth century."

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