"The trade of governing has always been an alliance of kings, priests, and soldiers."

"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot."

"It [hereditary succession] appears under all the various characters of childhood, decrepitude, dotage, a thing at nurse, in leading-strings, or in crutches. It reverses the wholesome order of nature. …"

"Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by…"

"I become irritated at the attempt to govern mankind by force and fraud, as if they were all knaves and fools."