Knowledge humanizes mankind, and reason inclines to mildness; but prejudices eradicate every tender disposition.

Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have their laws: the Deity His laws, the material world its laws, the intelligences superior to man their laws, the beasts their laws, man his laws.

Experience constantly proves that every man who has power is impelled to abuse it; he goes on till he is pulled up by some limits. Who would say it! virtue even has need of limits.

When a government lasts a long while, it deteriorates by insensible degrees. Republics end through luxury, monarchies through poverty.

Great commanders write their actions with simplicity; because they receive more glory from facts than from words.

When we seek after wit, we discover only foolishness.

I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise.