If he who employs coercion against me could mould me to his purposes by argument, no doubt he would. He pretends to punish me because his argument is strong; but he really punishes me because his argument is weak.
He that loves reading has everything within his reach.
Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.
Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.
The proper method for hastening the decay of error, is not, by brute force, or by regulation which is one of the classes of force, to endeavour to reduce men to intellectual uniformity; but on the contrary by teaching every man to think for himself.
Above all we should not forget that government is an evil, a usurpation upon the private judgement and individual conscience of mankind.
All education is despotism. It is perhaps impossible for the young to be conducted without introducing in many cases the tyranny implicit in obedience. Go there; do that; read; write; rise; lie down – will perhaps forever be the language addressed to youth by age.
The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed, is mainly derived from the act of introspection.
Revolutions are the produce of passion, not of sober and tranquil reason.
To conceive that compulsion and punishment are the proper means of reformation is the sentiment of a barbarian.