Love of reading enables a man to exchange the weary hours, which come to every one, for hours of delight.

False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared.

Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them; thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.

Friendship is an arrangement by which we undertake to exchange small favors for big ones.

But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

Liberty... is there only when there is no abuse of power.

Republics come to an end by luxurious habits; monarchies by poverty.