If science produces no better fruits than tyranny... I would rather wish our country to be ignorant, honest and estimable as our neighbouring savages are.

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.

Aristocrats fear the people, and wish to transfer all power to the higher classes of society.

Some other natural rights... [have] not yet entered into any declaration of rights.

letters are not the first, but the last step in the progression from barbarism to civilisation.

Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.

I have a right to nothing which another has a right to take away.