Vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous. To be convinced of this we need only represent, on the one hand,the numberless benefits which result from vanity, as industry, the arts, fashions, politeness, and taste; and on the other, the infinite evils which spring from the pride of certain nations, a laziness, poverty, a total neglect of everything.

People here argue about religion interminably, but it appears that they are competing at the same time to see who can be the least devout.

The culminating point of administration is to know well how much power, great or small, we ought to use in all circumstances.

When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.

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.

To succeed in the world we must look foolish but be wise.

There are bad examples which are worse than crimes; and more states have perished from the violation of morality than from the violation of law.