"A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century"
- Baron de Montesquieu
About this Quote
This quote by Baron de Montesquieu is a warning about the fragility of flexibility and democracy. It recommends that a country can lose its liberties in a single day, however might not understand it for a very long time. This is since the erosion of freedom can be progressive and subtle, and it can take a long time for people to acknowledge the loss of their rights. The quote likewise indicates that it is essential to be vigilant and to protect our liberties, as they can be removed without us even noticing. It is a tip that we need to understand the actions of our federal government and to make sure that our rights are not being taken away. It is a call to action to protect our flexibilities and to ensure that our nation stays a democracy.
"I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office"