If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it to my prince, for I am first a man and only then a Frenchman... because I am necessarily a man, and only accidentally am I French.
Each particular society begins to feel its strength, whence arises a state of war between different nations.
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.
Happy the people whose annals are tiresome.
There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.
