I felt before I thought

The severity of penalties is only a vain resource, invented by little minds in order to substitute terror for that respect which they have no means of obtaining.

Politeness requires this thing; decorum that; ceremony has its forms, and fashion its laws, and these must always follow, never the promptings of our own nature.

It is often said that my heart is too open for my own good.

Luxury... corrupts at once rich and poor, the rich by possession and the poor by covetousness.

If a king tries to start a war, a mother should go to him and forbid it.

Hatred as well as love, renders its votaries credulous.