“Liberty is the right to do everything the laws permit.”Montesquieu · Despre spiritul legilor · 1748 · Cartea XI, Capitolul 3
Freedom is guaranteed by laws, not compromised by them; laws define the space in which freedom can exist.
Montesquieu defines liberty as a space bounded by laws, not as an absence of rules. Without laws, people would threaten each other and no one would be free. For example, in a city with traffic rules, you can walk safely because everyone follows the same limits.
Why it matters Today, this idea helps us see laws not just as restrictions, but as guarantees of freedom. It is useful when debating limits on free speech or individual actions.