Slowness is frequently the cause of much greater slowness.

An injustice to one is a threat made to all

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

Christianity stamped its character on jurisprudence; for empire has ever a connection with the priesthood.

Europe is a state with several provinces

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 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.