What, then, do they want a government for? Not to regulate commerce; not to educate the people; not to teach religion, not to administer charity; not to make roads and railways; but simply to defend the natural rights of man -- to protect person and property -- to prevent the aggressions of the powerful upon the weak -- in a word, to administer justice. This is the natural, the original, office of a government. It was not intended to do less: it ought not to be allowed to do more.

Civilization is a progress from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity toward a definite, coherent heterogeneity.

Much dearer be the things which come through hard distress.

Every cause produces more than one effect.

Whatever fosters militarism makes for barbarism; whatever fosters peace makes for civilization.

To have a specific style is to be poor in speech.

We too often forget that not only is there 'a soul of goodness in things evil,' but very generally also, a soul of truth in things erroneous.