Solemnity is the shield of idiots

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

False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared.

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.

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

The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear.

As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.