"In a true state of nature, all men are born equal, but they cannot remain so. Society makes them lose their equality, and they can recover it only by the laws."

"Slavery is not good by its nature; it is useful neither to the master nor to the slave."

"The true spirit of equality is not to have any, but to be equal to those whom one has chosen to command."

"When the body of the people in a republic possess the supreme power, this is called a democracy."

"The political liberty of the subject is a tranquility of mind, arising from the opinion each person has of his safety."