knowledge Quotes

Circumstances give in reality to every political principle its distinguishing color and discriminating effect. The circumstances are what render every civil and political scheme beneficial or noxious to mankind.

The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.

Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.

Falsehood is a perennial spring.

To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.

I have never yet seen any plan which has not been mended by the observations of those who were much inferior in understanding to the person who took the lead in the business.

I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve.

There are three species of government: republican, monarchical, and despotic.

We must have constantly present in our minds the difference between independence and liberty. Liberty is a right of doing whatever the laws permit, and if a citizen could do what they forbid he would no longer be possessed of liberty.

Although born in a prosperous realm, we did not believe that its boundaries should limit our knowledge, and that the lore of the East should alone enlighten us.