“There are countries where a man is worth nothing; there are others where he is worth less than nothing.”

I suffer from the disease of writing books and being ashamed of them when they are finished.

There is something in animals beside the power of motion. They are not machines; they feel.

Wonderful maxim: not to talk of things any more after they are done.

An injustice to one is a threat made to all

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.

Of the love or hatred God has for the English, I know nothing, but I do know that they will all be thrown out of France, except those who die there.

The principle that human nature, in its psychological aspects, is nothing more than a product of history and given social relations removes all barriers to coercion and manipulation by the powerful.

When was the last time you spent a quiet moment just doing nothing – just sitting and looking at the sea, or watching the wind blowing the tree limbs, or waves rippling on a pond, a flickering candle or children playing in the park?

Nothing more strongly arouses our disgust than cannibalism.

Once you are married, there is nothing left for you, not even suicide.

Nothing like a little judicious levity.

Forgive many things in others; nothing in yourself.

The correction of silence is what kills; when you know you have transgressed, and your friend says nothing, and avoids your eye.