There will always be some people who think for themselves, even among the self-appointed guardians of the great mass who, after having thrown off the yoke of immaturity themselves, will spread about them the spirit of a reasonable estimate of their own value and of the need for every man to think for himself.

Both love of mankind, and respect for their rights are duties; the former however is only a conditional, the latter an unconditional, purely imperative duty, which he must be perfectly certain not to have transgressed who would give himself up to the secret emotions arising from benevolence.

Nature, when left to universal laws, tends to produce regularity out of chaos.

The enjoyment of power inevitably corrupts the judgment of reason, and perverts its liberty.

Duty is the necessity to act out of reverence for the law.

In all judgements by which we describe anything as beautiful, we allow no one to be of another opinion.

Nature even in chaos cannot proceed otherwise than regularly and according to order.