Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

If we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.