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.

A man who writes well writes not as others write, but as he himself writes; it is often in speaking badly that he speaks well.

The English are busy; they don't have time to be polite.

Countries are well cultivated, not as they are fertile, but as they are free.

When a government lasts a long while, it deteriorates by insensible degrees. Republics end through luxury, monarchies through poverty.

There is still another inconvenieney in conquests made by democracies; their government is ever odious to the conquered states. It is apparently monarchical, but in reality it is more oppressive than monarchy, as the experience of all ages and countries evinces.

There are three species of government: republican, monarchical, and despotic.