The writings of women are always cold and pretty like themselves. There is as much wit as you may desire, but never any soul.

I bold it impossible, that the great monarchies of Europe can subsist much longer; they all affect magnificence and splendor.

Freedom is the power to choose our own chains

There exists one book, which, to my taste, furnishes the happiest treatise of natural education. What then is this marvelous book? Is it Aristotle? Is it Pliny, is it Buffon? No-it is Robinson Crusoe.

Free people, remember this maxim: we may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost.

In any case, frequent punishments are a sign of weakness or slackness in the government. There is no man so bad that he cannot be made good for something. No man should be put to death, even as an example, if he can be left to live without danger to society.

How many famous and high-spirited heroes have lived a day too long?