Oh, how empty is praise when it reflects back to its origin!

Politics are a smooth file, which cuts gradually, and attains its end by slow progression.

We must have constantly present in our minds the difference between independence and liberty. Liberty is a right of doing whatever the laws permit, and if a citizen could do what they forbid he would no longer be possessed of liberty.

When the [law making] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty.

When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner.

There is as yet no liberty if the power of judging be not separated from legislative power and the executrix

The English are busy folk; they have no time in which to be polite.