History seldom destroys that which does not deserve to die; and the burning of the tares makes for the next sowing a richer soil.

A statesman cannot afford to be a moralist.

Read, think well of mankind, go to our libraries and rejoice.

The victors called the revolution a triumph of liberty; but now and then liberty in the slogans of the strong means freedom from restraint in the exploitation of the weak.

Nature smiles at the union of freedom and equality in our utopias. For freedom and equality are sworn and everlasting enemies, and when one prevails the other dies.

An emperor knows how to govern when poets are free to make verses, people to act plays, historians to tell the truth, ministers to give advice, the poor to grumble at taxes, students to learn lessons aloud, workmen to praise their skill and seek work, people to speak of anything, and old men to find fault with everything.

The time when you need to do something is when no one else is willing to do it, when people are saying it can't be done.