I may be kindly, I am ordinarily gentle, but in my line of business I am obliged to will terribly what I will at all.
The laws ought to be so framed as to secure the safety of every citizen as much as possible. … Political liberty does not consist in the notion that a man may do whatever he pleases; liberty is the right to do whatsoever the laws allow. … The equality of the citizens consists in that they should all be subject to the same laws.
Don’t worry about things you cannot alter.
I am one of the people who love the why of things.
Power without a nation’s confidence is nothing.
I sincerely want peace, not because I lack resources for war, but because I hate bloodshed.
It is better to inspire a reform than to enforce it.
You were in a mood to quarrel. Please inform me once the inclination passes.
A great wind is blowing, and that gives you either imagination or a headache.
Experience shows that the frequent use of severe punishment has never rendered a people better. The death of a criminal is a less effective means of restraining crimes than the permanent example of a man deprived of his liberty during the whole of his life to make amends for the injury he has done to the public.
All this is only for the mice and myself to admire!
Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.
All punishments by which the human body might be maimed are barbarbarism.
I beg you take courage; the brave soul can mend even disaster.
I shall be an autocrat: that’s my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that’s his.
Your wit makes others witty.
In my position you have to read when you want to write and to talk when you would like to read.
In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.
Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.
I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.
The more a man knows, the more he forgives.
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