Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.

Servitude debases men to the point where they end up liking it.

The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.

It is not in everyone's power to secure wealth, office, or honors; but everyone may be good, generous, and wise.

If it is true that vice can never be done away with, the science of government consists of making it contribute to the public good.

The usual pretext of those who make others unhappy is that they do it for their own good.

We are less hurt by the contempt of fools than by the lukewarm approval of men of intelligence.