When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.

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.

The history of commerce is that of the communication of the people.

When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.

Do you think that God will punish them for not practicing a religion which he did not reveal to them?

If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it; for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.