At our coming into the world we contract an immense debt to our country, which we can never discharge.

When the savages of Louisiana wish to have fruit, they cut the tree at the bottom and gather the fruit. That is exactly a despotic government.

Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.

Religious wars are not caused by the fact that there is more than one religion, but by the spirit of intolerance... the spread of which can only be regarded as the total eclipse of human reason.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

The less men think, the more they talk.

In the matter of dress one should always keep below one's ability.