Philosopher

As soon as man enters into a state of society he loses the sense of his weakness; equality ceases, and then commences the state of war.

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.

There are three species of government: republican, monarchical, and despotic.

The object of war is victory; that of victory is conquest; and that of conquest preservation.

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

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

Society is the union of men and not the men themselves.

Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.

There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.

We should weep for men at their birth, not at their death.

The state of slavery is in its own nature bad.

Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.

A man should be mourned at his birth, not at his death.

But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.

They who assert that a blind fatality produced the various effects we behold in this world talk very absurdly; for can anything be more unreasonable than to pretend that a blind fatality could be productive of intelligent beings?

Do you think that God will punish them for not practicing a religion which he did not reveal to them?

I have read descriptions of Paradise that would make any sensible person stop wanting to go there.

Not to be loved is a misfortune, but it is an insult to be loved no longer.

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

To love to read is to exchange hours of ennui for hours of delight.