Men are as much blinded by the extremes of misery as by the extremes of prosperity.

Society is indeed a contract. Subordinate contracts for objects of mere occasional interest may be dissolved at pleasure - but the state ought not to be considered as nothing better than a partnership agreement in a trade of pepper and coffee, calico, or tobacco, or some other such low concern, to be taken up for a little temporary interest, and to be dissolved by the fancy of the parties. It is to be looked on with other reverence, because it is not a partnership in things subservient only to the gross animal existence of a temporary and perishable nature.

Sallust is indisputably one of the best historians among the Romans, both for the purity of his language and the elegance of his style.

The greatest sin is to do nothing because you can only do a little.

Good company, lively conversation, and the endearments of friendship fill the mind with great pleasure.

All government is founded on compromise and banter.

To speak of atrocious crime in mild language is treason to virtue.