Consolation indiscreetly pressed upon us, when we are suffering undue affliction, only serves to increase our pain, and to render our grief more poignant.

We are born, so to speak, twice over; born into existence, and born into life; born a human being, and born a man.

Good laws lead to the making of better ones; bad ones bring about worse.

The infant, on opening his eyes, ought to see his country, and to the hour of his death never lose sight of it.

To discover the rules of society that are best suited to nations, there would need to exist a superior intelligence, who could understand the passions of men without feeling any of them, who had no affinity with our nature but knew it to the full, whose happiness was independent of ours, but who would nevertheless make our happiness his concern, who would be content to wait in the fullness of time for a distant glory, and to labour in one age to enjoy the fruits in another. Gods would be needed to give men laws.

Self-love is an instrument useful but dangerous; it often wounds the hand which makes use of it, and seldom does good without doing harm.

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