
Separation of powers, checks and balances — the blueprint for constitutional government.
Why this book matters
The book that taught the Founders how to build a republic — Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws is the invisible architecture behind modern democracy.
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Free Audiobook · Book 1: Of Laws in General
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Montesquieu: The Spirit of Laws (1748) Page 9 BOOK 1 Of Laws in General 1. Of the Relation of Laws to different Beings. Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have…
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The book that taught the Founders how to build a republic — Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws is the invisible architecture behind modern democracy.
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Open in Books4Free → Download PDF, Kindle and other formats from Project Gutenberg ↗Table of contents
- Front Matter (Title, TOC, Preface)Contents
- Book 1: Of Laws in GeneralFree
- Book 2: Of Laws Derived from the Nature of GovernmentFree
- Book 3: Of the Principles of the Three Kinds of GovernmentFree
- Book 4: Laws of Education and GovernmentFree
- Book 5: Laws Given by the LegislatorFree
- Book 6: Consequences of the Principles of Different GovernmentsFree
- Book 7: Sumptuary Laws, Luxury, and WomenFree
- Book 8: Corruption of the Principles of GovernmentFree
- Book 9: Laws and Defensive ForceFree
- Book 10: Laws and Offensive ForceFree
- Book 11: Political Liberty and the ConstitutionFree
- Book 12: Political Liberty and the SubjectFree
- Book 13: Taxes, Public Revenue, and LibertyFree
- Book 14: Laws and the Nature of ClimateFree
- Book 15: Civil Slavery and ClimateFree
- Book 16: Domestic Slavery and ClimateFree
- Book 17: Political Servitude and ClimateFree
- Book 18: Laws and the Nature of the SoilFree
- Book 19: National Spirit, Morals, and CustomsFree
- Book 20: Commerce — Nature and DistinctionsFree
- Book 21: Commerce — RevolutionsFree
- Book 22: The Use of MoneyFree
- Book 23: Number of InhabitantsFree
- Book 24: Religion in ItselfFree
- Book 25: The Establishment of ReligionFree
- Book 26: Order of ThingsFree
- Book 27: Roman Laws on SuccessionsFree
- Book 28: French Civil LawsFree
- Book 29: Composing LawsFree
- Book 30: Feudal Laws — EstablishmentFree
- Book 31: Feudal Laws — RevolutionsFree
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