The laws do not take upon them to punish any other than overt acts.

The spirit of moderation should also be the spirit of the lawgiver.

The crime against nature will never make any great progress in society unless people are prompted to it by some particular custom.

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.

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.

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

Oh, how empty is praise when it reflects back to its origin!