Liberty itself has appeared intolerable to those nations who have not been accustomed to enjoy it.

The Christian religion is a stranger to mere despotic power. The mildness so frequently recommended in the Gospel is incompatible with the despotic rage.

Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.

In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.

Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.

As men are affected in all ages by the same passions, the occasions which bring about great changes are different, but the causes are always the same.

The love of study is in us the only lasting passion. All the others quit us in proportion as this miserable machine which holds them approaches its ruins.