It is unreasonable ... to oblige a man not to attempt the defense of his own life.

The Christian religion is a stranger to mere despotic power. The mildness so frequently recommended in the Gospel is incompatible with the despotic rage.

There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.

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.

If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it; for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident

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

It is always the adventurers who do great things, not the sovereigns of great empires.