Men should be bewailed at their birth, and not at their death.

Slowness is frequently the cause of much greater slowness.

In every government there are three sorts of power: the legislative; the executive in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive in regard to matters that depend on the civil law.

The false notion of miracles comes of our vanity, which makes us believe we are important enough for the Supreme Being to upset nature on our behalf.

Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.

Slavery, properly so called, is the establishment of a right which gives to one man such a power over another as renders him absolute master of his life and fortune.

Honor is unknown in despotic states.