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.

The severity of the laws prevents their execution.

The less luxury there is in a republic, the more it is perfect.

They who love to inform themselves, are never idle. Though I have no business of consequence to take care of, I am nevertheless continually employed. I spend my life in examining things: I write down in the evening whatever I have remarked, what I have seen, and what I have heard in the day: every thing engages my attention, and every thing excites my wonder: I am like an infant, whose organs, as yet tender, are strongly affected by the slightest objects.

The reason the Romans built their great paved highways was because they had such inconvenient footwear.

There is hardly any grief that an hour's reading will not dissipate.

The crime against nature will never make any great progress in society unless people are prompted to it by some particular custom.