A great deal of the furniture of ancient tyranny is torn to rags; the rest is entirely out of fashion.

Tyrants seldom want pretexts.

It is very rare, indeed, for men to be wrong in their feelings concerning public misconduct; as rare to be right in their speculations upon the cause of it. I have constantly observed that the generality of people are fifty years, at least, behind in their politics.

No government ought to exist for the purpose of checking the prosperity of its people or to allow such a principle in its policy.

Contempt is not a thing to be despised.

The grave is a common treasury, to which we must all be taken.

What is it we all seek for in an election? To answer its real purposes, you must first possess the means of knowing the fitness of your man; and then you must retain some hold upon him by personal obligation or dependence.