Human laws made to direct the will ought to give precepts, and not counsels.

We ought to be very cautious in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty, and may be the origin of a number of petty acts of tyranny if the legislator be not on his guard; for as such an accusation does not bear directly on the overt acts of a citizen, but refers to the idea we entertain of his character.

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.

The success of most things depends upon knowing how long it will take to succeed.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

One more organ or one less in our body would give us a different intelligence. In fact, all the established laws as to why our body is a certain way would be different if our body were not that way.

To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight.