If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.

Republics come to an end by luxurious habits; monarchies by poverty.

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

[The Pope] will make the king believe that three are only one, that the bread he eats is not bread... and a thousand other things of the same kind.

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.

Luxury ruins republics; poverty, monarchies.

The public business must be carried on with a certain motion, neither too quick nor too slow.