Luxury either comes of riches or makes them necessary; it corrupts at once rich and poor, the rich by possession and the poor by covetousness.

They must know but little of mankind who can imagine that, after they have been once seduced by luxury, they can ever renounce it.

Nature's instructions are always slow, those of men are generally premature.

Old men grasp more at life than babies, and leave it with a much worse grace than young people. It is because all their labours having been for this life, they perceive at last their trouble lost.

To reign by opinion, begin by trampling it under your feet.

The less reasonable a cult is, the more men seek to establish it by force.

Do we wish men to be virtuous? Then let us begin by making them love their country.

The more humanity owes him [the poor man], the more society denies him. Every door is shut against him, even when he has a right to its being opened: and if he ever obtains justice, it is with much greater difficulty than others obtain favours.

The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.

Every artist loves applause. The praise of his contemporaries is the most valuable part of his recompense.