Countries are not cultivated in proportion to their fertility, but to their liberty.

It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

We receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school-masters, and one from the world. The third contradicts all that the first two teach us.

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

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.

For a country, everything will be lost when the jobs of an economist and a banker become highly respected professions.

Liberty... is there only when there is no abuse of power.

Knowledge humanizes mankind, and reason inclines to mildness; but prejudices eradicate every tender disposition.

Love sticks around even when it has a lot to put up with.

Old as she was she still missed her daddy sometimes.

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

[On Thomas Babington Macaulay:] He was a most disagreeable companion to my fancy ... His conversation was a procession of one.

Even at my age, I'm trying to improve. Never give up, no matter what. Even if you get last place - finish.

I decided that I wanted nothing to do with South African government television while any of my fellow writers were banned and couldn't speak publicly.

That which has been believed by everyone, always and everywhere, has every chance of being false.

I am the only candidate for mayor of London with the experience of being a transport minister.

Engineering, I think you can pick up. [A data scientist's] curiosity is built-in

It is a proof of nobility of mind to despise injuries.