Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a despotic government.

Passion makes us feel, but never see clearly.

In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing.

The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

The laws do not take upon them to punish any other than overt acts.