“Certain kinds of foolishness are such that a greater foolishness would be better.”

The law of nations is naturally founded on this principle, that different nations ought in time of peace to do one another all the good they can, and in time of war as little injury as possible, without prejudicing their real interests.

Republics end through luxury; monarchies through poverty.

A really intelligent man feels what other men only know.

The less luxury there is in a republic, the more it is perfect.

It is rare to find learned men who are clean, do not stink and have a sense of humour.

I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

I like peasants-they are not sophisticated enough to reason speciously.

There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.

The history of commerce is that of the communication of the people.

Republics are brought to their ends by luxury; monarchies by poverty.

Better it is to say that the government most comfortable to nature is that which best agrees with the humor and disposition of the people in whose favor it is established.

If I knew something that would serve my country but would harm mankind, I would never reveal it; for I am a citizen of humanity first and by necessity, and a citizen of France second, and only by accident

I never listen to calumnies, because if they are untrue I run the risk of being deceived, and if they be true, of hating persons not worth thinking about.

I have always observed that to succeed in the world one should seem a fool, but be wise.

In the birth of societies it is the chiefs of states who give it its special character; and afterward it is this special character that forms the chiefs of state.

My mother would kill me if I posed nude! My mother raised me with certain standards.

There is nothing on earth that could ever make me want to relive certain years of my life when I was young.

I’m not worried about making a certain type of music or sticking to one type of music.

Anything that is not funny at a certain point will be funny.

Most certainly, some planets are not inhabited, but others are, and among these there must exist life under all conditions and phases of development.

Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point.

The best writing is certainly when you are in love.

In every crowd are certain persons who seem just like the rest, yet they bear amazing messages.