Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.

Human laws made to direct the will ought to give precepts, and not counsels.

A prince who loves and fears religion is a lion who stoops to the hand that strokes or to the voice that appeases him. He who fears and hates religion is like the savage beast that growls and bites the chain, which prevents his flying on the passenger. He who has no religion at all is that terrible animal who perceives his liberty only when he tears in pieces, and when he devours.

It is rare to find learned men who are clean, do not stink and have a sense of humour.

An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations.

There is no one, says another, whom fortune does not visit once in his life; but when she does not find him ready to receive her, she walks in at the door, and flies out at the window.

In constitutional states, liberty is compensation for heavy taxes; in dictatorships, the subsititue is light taxes.