Honor is like the eye, which cannot suffer the least impurity without damage. It is a precious stone, the price of which is lessened by a single flaw. - Jacques Bénigne Bossuet

There is therefore no better way to judge animals well than by studying oneself first. For even though we have something higher than the animal, we are animals, and we have experience both of what makes the animal in us and of what makes for reasoning and reflection.

There is nothing worse than anarchy, that is to say living without government and without laws.

Mais Dieu se rit des prières qu'on lui fait pour détourner les malheurs publics, quand on ne s'oppose pas à ce qui se fait pour les attirer. Que dis-je? quand on l'approuve et qu'on y souscrit, quoique ce soit avec répugnance.