Our greatest misfortunes come to us from ourselves.

Nature never deceives us; it is we who deceive ourselves.

Once you teach people to say what they do not understand, it is easy enough to get them to say anything you like.

The members of a body-politic call it "the state" when it is passive, "the sovereign" when it is active, and a "power" when they compare it with others of its kind. Collectively they use the title "people," and they refer to one another individually as "citizens" when speaking of their participation in the authority of the sovereign, and as "subjects" when speaking of their subordination to the laws of the state.

Every artists wants to be applauded

When my reason is afloat, my faith cannot long remain in suspense, and I believe in God as firmly as in any other truth whatever; in short, a thousand motives draw me to the consolatory side, and add the weight of hope to the equilibrium of reason.

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