Public affairs go on pretty much as usual: perpetual chicanery and rather more personal abuse than there used to be.

The fundamental article of my political creed is that despotism, or limited sovereignty, or absolute power is the same [whether] in a majority of a popular assembly; an aristocratic council; or oligarchical junto and a single emperor - equally arbitrary, cruel, bloody and in every respect diabolical.

The only thing most people do better than anyone else is read their own handwriting.

Have you considered that system of holy lies and pious frauds that has raged and triumphed for 1,500 years?

Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.

Did you ever see a portrait of a great man without perceiving strong traits of pain and anxiety?

As the happiness of the people is the sole end of government, so the consent of the people is the only foundation of it.