Love of reading enables a man to exchange the weary hours, which come to every one, for hours of delight.

It is necessary from the very nature of things that power should be a check to power.

The deterioration of every government begins with the decay of the principles on which it was founded.

We receive three educations, one from our parents, one from our school-masters, and one from the world. The third contradicts all that the first two teach us.

There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.

Every man who has power is impelled to abuse it.

In the state of nature... all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century.

For a country, everything will be lost when the jobs of an economist and a banker become highly respected professions.

Liberty... is there only when there is no abuse of power.

Knowledge humanizes mankind, and reason inclines to mildness; but prejudices eradicate every tender disposition.

To achieve your dreams you must be willing to take massive action over a long period, even when there is no evidence of progress.

The contour should come last, only a very experienced eye can place it rightly.

In terms of protecting ourselves, the main issues are around how do we protect our borders [from illegal migrants and livestock and plant diseases], how do we protect our fisheries?

National discord is, like religion, a standardized form of revolt; and the moment a revolt is standardized, it is no longer a revolt.

Whoever in debate quotes authority uses not intellect, but memory.

In the race of men is much greed and envy; but of truth, little.

God strung up his own son like a side of veal. I shudder to think what he would do to me.

I was kind of excited about going to jail the first time and I learnt some great dialogue.

To stake all one's life on a single moment, to risk everything on one throw, whether the stake be power or pleasure, I care not - there is no weakness in that.

To whom much is given, much is expected. I do believe this. It's embedded in me.