When one wants to change manners and customs, one should not do so by changing the laws.

No tyranny is more cruel than the one practised in the shadow of the laws and under color of justice - when, so to speak, one proceeds to drown the unfortunate on the very plank by which they had saved themselves. And since a tyrant never lacks instruments for his tyranny, Tiberius always found judges ready to condemn as many people as he might suspect.

The spirit of commerce is frugality, economy, moderation, labor, ponderance, tranquillity, order, and rule. So long as this spirit subsides, the riches it produces have no bad effect. The mischief is when excessive wealth destroys the spirit of commerce, then it is that the conveniences of inequality... are felt.

The severity of the laws prevents their execution.

Vanity and pride of nations; vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous.

This punishment of death is the remedy, as it were, of a sick society.

If you would be holy, instruct your children, because all the good acts they perform will be imputed to you.