If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it to my prince, for I am first a man and only then a Frenchman... because I am necessarily a man, and only accidentally am I French.

That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth. They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow.

We ought to be very cautious in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty, and may be the origin of a number of petty acts of tyranny if the legislator be not on his guard; for as such an accusation does not bear directly on the overt acts of a citizen, but refers to the idea we entertain of his character.

There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines; they feel.

An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

We receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school-masters, and one from the world. The third contradicts all that the first two teach us.