Fiction lags after truth, invention is unfruitful, and imagination cold and barren.

In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.

I consider how little man is, yet, in his own mind, how great. He is lord and master of all things, yet scarce can command anything.

They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance.

Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations.

Power, in whatever hands, is rarely guilty of too strict limitations on itself.

Dangers by being despised grow great.