Man is a social animal formed to please in society.

There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.

It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.

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

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.

The crime against nature will never make any great progress in society unless people are prompted to it by some particular custom.

If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it; for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident