A wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

A wise man learns more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.

I deserve respect for the things I did not do.

I deserve respect for the things I did not do.

The State always moves slowly and grudgingly towards any purpose that accrues to society's advantage, but moves rapidly and with read more

The State always moves slowly and grudgingly towards any purpose that accrues to society's advantage, but moves rapidly and with alacrity towards one that accrues to its own advantage; nor does it ever move towards social purposes on its own initiative, but only under heavy pressure, while its motion towards anti-social purposes is self-sprung.

The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments. The state can be and read more

The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments. The state can be and has often been in the course of history the main source of mischief and disaster.

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.

Discontent is likely to be highest when misery is bearable; when conditions have so improved that an ideal state seems read more

Discontent is likely to be highest when misery is bearable; when conditions have so improved that an ideal state seems almost within reach. A grievance is most poignant when almost redressed. De Tocqueville in his researches into the state of society in France before the revolution was struck by the discovery that "in no one of the periods which have followed the Revolution of 1789 has the national prosperity of France augmented more rapidly than it did in the twenty years preceding that event." He is forced to conclude that "the French found their position the more intolerable the better it became.

These people have served a longer sentence than some people who have committed murder.

These people have served a longer sentence than some people who have committed murder.

True patriots we; for be it understood we left our country for our country's good.

True patriots we; for be it understood we left our country for our country's good.

He is free who knows how to keep in his own hand the power to decide, at each step, the read more

He is free who knows how to keep in his own hand the power to decide, at each step, the course of his life, and who lives in a society which does not block the exercise of that power.