The State is a poor, good beast who means the best: it means friendly.

When fear enters the heart of a man at hearing the names of candidates and the reading of laws that are proposed, then is the State safe, but when these things are heard without regard, as above or below us, then is the Commonwealth sick or dead.

The state is the servant of the citizen, and not his master.

The State not seldom tolerates a comparatively great evil to keep out millions of lesser ills and inconveniences which otherwise would be inevitable and without remedy.

While the state exists there is no freedom; when there is freedom there will be no state.

As great edifices collapse of their own weight, so Heaven sets a similar limit to the growth of prosperous states.

Each State can have for enemies only other States, and not men; for between things disparate in nature there can be no real relation.

The responsibility of great states is to serve and not to dominate the world.