Tyrants seldom want pretexts.

Economy is a distributive virtue, and consists not in saving but selection. Parsimony requires no providence, no sagacity, no powers of combination, no comparison, no judgment.

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

All those instances to be found in history, whether real or fabulous, of a doubtful public spirit, at which morality is perplexed, reason is staggered, and from which affrighted Nature recoils, are their chosen and almost sole examples for the instruction of their youth.

Economy is a distributive virtue, and consists not in saving but in selection.

For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever

Nobility is a graceful ornament to the civil order. It is the Corinthian capital of polished society.