Honor sets all the parts of the body politic in motion, and by its very action connects them; thus each individual advances the public good, while he only thinks of promoting his own interest.

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.

Who would care to question the ground of forgiveness or compassion?

Riding exhilarated me; it gave me a joy and a purpose.

Moral prejudices are the stopgaps of virtue; and, as is the case with other stopgaps, it is often more difficult to get either out or in through them than through any other part of the fence.

I've always thought that anyone who needs to join a herd so badly must be a bit of a sheep himself.

Three of my novels and a good number of my short stories are told from the point of view of men. I was brought up in a house of women.

I liked the South-West straightaway - the beautiful scenery, the way the mountains slope down to the sea. And the wildness of it all.

I've been very successful at negotiating debates.

My favorite question is 'What do you do?' I'm like, 'I'm a walking cliche: I'm a model and an actress.

Story is a relationship between the teller and the listener, a responsibility. After the listening you become accountable for the sacred knowledge that has been shared.

Loving friends let kindness grow in their hearts, creating a oneness with their souls.