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

The great must submit to the dominion of prudence and of virtue, or none will long submit to the dominion of the great.

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.

Tyrants seldom want pretexts.

Custom reconciles us to everything.

In such a strait the wisest may well be perplexed and the boldest staggered.

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