Take mankind as they are, and what are they governed by? Their passions.

The desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of human conduct; ... the best security for the fidelity of mankind is to make their interest coincide with their duty.

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

The same rule that teaches the propriety of a partition between the various branches of power, teaches us likewise that this partition ought to be so contrived as to render the one independent of the other.

Self-preservation is the first principle of our nature.

Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.

The experience of treaties being broken with impunity provide an afflicting lesson to mankind how little dependence is to be placed on treaties which have no other sanction than the obligations of good faith; and which oppose general considerations of peace and justice to the impulse of any immediate interest and passion.