History justifies whatever we want it to. It teaches absolutely nothing, for it contains everything and gives examples of everything.

It must be admitted that liberty is the hardest test that one can inflict on a people. To know how to be free is not given equally to all men and all nations.

Growing nations should remember that, in nature, no tree, though placed in the best conditions of light, soil, and plot, can continue to grow and spread indefinitely.

All nations have present, or past, or future reasons for thinking themselves incomparable.

Order always weighs on the individual. Disorder makes him wish for the police or for death. These are two extreme circumstances in which human nature is not at ease.

Peace is a virtual, mute, sustained victory of potential powers against probable greeds.

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

The object of psychology is to give us a totally different idea of the things we know best.

In most cases, when the lion, weary of obeying its master, has torn and devoured him, its nerves are pacified and it looks round for another master before whom to grovel.

Every social system is more or less against nature, and at every moment nature is at work to reclaim her rights.