I like peasants-they are not sophisticated enough to reason speciously.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Brutes are deprived of the high advantages which we have; but they have some which we have not. They have not our hopes, but theyare without our fears; they are subject like us to death, but without knowing it; even most of them are more attentive than we to self-preservation, and do not make so bad a use of their passions.

Virtue in a republic is the love of one's country, that is the love of equality.

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

The alms given to a naked man in the street do not fulfil the obligations of the state, which owes to every citizen a certain subsistence, a proper nourishment, convenient clothing, and a kind of life not incompatible with health.

In the matter of dress one should always keep below one's ability.