In every government there are three sorts of power: the legislative; the executive in respect to things dependent on the law of nations; and the executive in regard to matters that depend on the civil law.

Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half.

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

Knowledge humanizes mankind, and reason inclines to mildness; but prejudices eradicate every tender disposition.

The spirit of commerce is frugality, economy, moderation, labor, ponderance, tranquillity, order, and rule. So long as this spirit subsides, the riches it produces have no bad effect. The mischief is when excessive wealth destroys the spirit of commerce, then it is that the conveniences of inequality... are felt.

To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.

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