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

The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.

In a republic there is no coercive force as in other governments, the laws must therefore endeavor to supply this defect.

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.

It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.

Liberty... is there only when there is no abuse of power.

Sometimes a man who deserves to be looked upon because he is a fool is despised only because he is a lawyer.