Men are especially intolerant of serving and being ruled by, their equals.

For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from force of character: for obedience is the constant will to execute what, by the general decree of the commonwealth, ought to be done.

To give aid to every poor man is far beyond the reach and power of every man. Care of the poor is incumbent on society as a whole.

Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men's natural abilities as to restrain them.

He who has a true idea, knows at that same time that he has a true idea, nor can he doubt concerning the truth of the thing.

There is no fear without some hope, and no hope without some fear.

I should attempt to treat human vice and folly geometrically... the passions of hatred, anger, envy, and so on, considered in themselves, follow from the necessity and efficacy of nature... I shall, therefore, treat the nature and strength of the emotion in exactly the same manner, as though I were concerned with lines, planes, and solids.