Ignorant of the arts of luxury, the primitive Romans had improved the science of government and war.

Freedom is the first wish of our heart; freedom is the first blessing of nature; and unless we bind ourselves with voluntary chains of interest or passion, we advance in freedom as we advance in years

The communication of ideas requires a similitude of thought and language . . .

Europe is secure from any future irruptions of Barbarians; since, before they can conquer, they must cease to be barbarous.

The courage of a soldier is found to be the cheapest and most common quality of human nature.

[It] is the interest as well as duty of a sovereign to maintain the authority of the laws.

It is scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire. The minds of men were gradually reduced to the same level, the fire of genius was extinguished, and even the military spirit evaporated.