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

Great commanders write their actions with simplicity; because they receive more glory from facts than from words.

Laws, in their most general signification, are the necessary relations arising from the nature of things. In this sense all beings have their laws: the Deity His laws, the material world its laws, the intelligences superior to man their laws, the beasts their laws, man his laws.

Europe is a state with several provinces

Love of the republic in a democracy, is a love of the democracy; love of the democracy is that of equality. Love of the democracy is likewise that of frugality.

Power ought to serve as a check to power.

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