According to Montesquieu, the difference between absolute monarchy and despotism is that in the case of the monarchy, a single person governs with absolute power by fixed and established laws, whereas a despot governs by his or her own will and caprice.
Podle Montesquieua je rozdíl mezi absolutní monarchií a despotismem v tom, že monarcha vládne s absolutní mocí založenou na zákonech, kdežto despota vládne jen podle své vůle a rozmaru.