Passion makes us feel, but never see clearly.

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.

The harshest tyranny is that which acts under the protection of legality and the banner of justice.

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

Brutes are deprived of the high advantages which we have; but they have some which we have not. They have not our hopes, but theyare without our fears; they are subject like us to death, but without knowing it; even most of them are more attentive than we to self-preservation, and do not make so bad a use of their passions.

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

Laws undertake to punish only overt acts.