The incomparable stupidity of life teaches us to love our parents; divine philosophy teaches us to forgive them.

Better it is to say that the government most comfortable to nature is that which best agrees with the humor and disposition of the people in whose favor it is established.

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

The harshest tyranny is that which acts under the protection of legality and the banner of justice.

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

In every government there are three sorts of power: the legislative; the executive in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive in regard to matters that depend on the civil law.

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.