No tyranny is more cruel than the one practised in the shadow of the laws and under color of justice - when, so to speak, one proceeds to drown the unfortunate on the very plank by which they had saved themselves. And since a tyrant never lacks instruments for his tyranny, Tiberius always found judges ready to condemn as many people as he might suspect.

Vanity and pride of nations; vanity is as advantageous to a government as pride is dangerous.

Countries are not cultivated in proportion to their fertility, but to their liberty.

Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them; thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.

As men are affected in all ages by the same passions, the occasions which bring about great changes are different, but the causes are always the same.

That anyone who possesses power has a tendency to abuse it is an eternal truth. They tend to go as far as the barriers will allow.

The incomparable stupidity of life teaches us to love our parents; divine philosophy teaches us to forgive them.