Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.

Countries are well cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.

Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.

A man who writes well writes not as others write, but as he himself writes; it is often in speaking badly that he speaks well.

The law of nations is naturally founded on this principle, that different nations ought in time of peace to do one another all the good they can, and in time of war as little injury as possible, without prejudicing their real interests.

A rational army would run away.

The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.