Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.

A convinced man differs from a prejudiced man as an honest man from a liar.

A public man has no right to let his actions be determined by particular interests. He does the same thing as a judge who accepts a bribe. Like a judge he must consider what is right, not what is advantageous to a party or class.

We are not sure we are right until we have made the best case possible for those who are wrong.

The form of government and the condition of society must always correspond. Social equality is therefore a postulate of pure democracy.

The passion for power over others can never cease to threaten mankind, and is always sure of finding new and unforseen allies in continuing its martyrology.

Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.