Supreme happiness consists in self-content; that we may gain this self-content, we are placed upon this earth and endowed with freedom.

To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.

If there were a people consisting of gods, they would be governed democratically. So perfect a government is not suitable to men.

Innocence is ashamed of nothing.

The indifference of children towards meat is one proof that the taste for meat is unnatural; their preference is for vegetable foods...Beware of changing this natural taste and making children flesh-eaters, if not for their health's sake, for the sake of their character; for how can one explain away the fact that great meat-eaters are usually fiercer and more cruel than other men; this has been recognised at all times and in all places.

The French, for example, are a contemptible nation.

At length I recollected the thoughtless saying of a great princess, who, on being informed that the country people had no bread, replied, "Let them eat cake".