Men in excess of happiness or misery are equally inclined to severity. Witness conquerors and monks! It is mediocrity alone, and a mixture of prosperous and adverse fortune that inspire us with lenity and pity.

In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing.

The prejudices of superstition are superior to all others, and have the strongest influence on the human mind.

What cowardice it is to be dismayed by the happiness of others and devastated by there good fortune.

Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments.

Virtue in a republic is the love of one's country, that is the love of equality.

Ever since the invention of gunpowder.. I continually tremble lest men should, in the end, uncover some secret which would provide a short way of abolishing mankind, of annihilating peoples and nations in their entirety.