If God forbade drinking, would He have made wine so good?

A virtuous and well-disposed person, like a good metal, the more he is fired, the more he is fined; the more he is opposed, the more he is approved: wrongs may well try him, and touch him, but cannot imprint in him any false stamp.

Bakers of bread rolls and pastry cooks will not buy grain before eleven o'clock in winter and noon in summer.

Nothing is as dangerous for the state as those who would govern kingdoms with maxims found in books.

Deception is the knowledge of kings.

If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.

Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion.