The spirit of commerce is frugality, economy, moderation, labor, ponderance, tranquillity, order, and rule. So long as this spirit subsides, the riches it produces have no bad effect. The mischief is when excessive wealth destroys the spirit of commerce, then it is that the conveniences of inequality... are felt.

Friendship is a contract in which we render small services in expectation of big ones.

When God endowed human beings with brains, He did not intend to guarantee them.

A love of the republic in a democracy is a love of the democracy, as the latter is that of equality. A love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality. Since every individual ought here to enjoy the same happiness, and the same advantages, they should consequently taste the same pleasures and form the same hopes, which cannot be expected but from a general frugality.

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.

Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.

To succeed in the world we must look foolish but be wise.