"The principle of democracy is corrupted not only when the spirit of equality is lost, but also when it is carried to an extreme."

"To prevent the executive power from being able to oppress, it is requisite that the armies with which it is entrusted should consist of the people, and have the same spirit as the people."

"It is impossible for us to suppose that these are men; because if we should suppose them to be men, one would begin to believe that we ourselves are not Christians."

"The greatest empires are not maintained by the same means by which they are established. A new force may be acquired by conquest, but this new force will diminish the old."

"Frequent punishments are a sign of weakness or indolence in the government."