It is very easy to accuse a government of imperfection, for all mortal things are full of it.

A man must live in the world and make the best of it, such as it is.

I do not correct my first imaginings by my second--well, yes, perhaps a word or so, but only to vary, not to delete. I want to represent the course of my humors and I want people to see each part at its birth.

There is no man so good that if he placed all his actions and thoughts under the scrutiny of the laws, he would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.

Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one's own goodness.

Every period of life has its peculiar prejudices; whoever saw old age, that did not applaud the past, and condemn the present times?

The judgment is an utensil proper for all subjects, and will have an oar in everything.