The spirit of commerce... renders every man willing to live on his own property...& prevents the growth of luxury.

The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.

That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth. They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow.

We ought to be very cautious and circumspect in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty.

Honor is unknown in despotic states.

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

Sometimes a man who deserves to be looked upon because he is a fool is despised only because he is a lawyer.