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

But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

When one wants to change manners and customs, one should not do so by changing the laws.

When we seek after wit, we discover only foolishness.

Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.

Friendship is a contract in which we render small services in expectation of big ones.

When a government is arrived to that degree of corruption as to be incapable of reforming itself, it would not lose much by being new moulded.