Those who have few affairs to attend to are great speakers. The less men think, the more they talk.

Human laws made to direct the will ought to give precepts, and not counsels.

As virtue is necessary in a republic, and honor in a monarchy, fear is what is required in a despotism. As for virtue, it is not at all necessary, and honor would be dangerous there.

A good writer does not write as people write, but as he writes.

The severity of the laws prevents their execution.

Peace is a natural effect of trade.

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.