Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.

There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men.

A government does not desire its powers to be strictly defined, but the subjects require the line to be drawn with increasing precision.

There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.

Monarchy hardens into despotism. Aristocracy contracts into oligarchy. Democracy expands into the supremacy of numbers.

There are many things the government cant do, many good purposes it must renounce. It must leave them to the enterprise of others. It cannot feed the people. It cannot enrich the people. It cannot teach the people. It cannot convert the people.

It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.