Algernon Sidney

Such as have reason, understanding, or common sense, will, and ought to make use of it in those things that concern themselves and their posterity, and suspect the words of such as are interested in deceiving or persuading them not to see with their own eyes.

Liars need to have good memories.

There may be a hundred thousand men in an army, who are all equally free; but they only are naturally most fit to be commanders or leaders, who most excel in the virtues required for the right performance of those offices.

No right can come by conquest, unless there were a right of making that conquest.

Tis hard to comprehend how one man can come to be master of many, equal to himself in right, unless it be by consent or by force.

Laws and constitutions ought to be weighed... to constitute that which is most conducing to the establishment of justice and liberty.

The best Governments of the World have bin composed of Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy.

Many things are unknown to the wisest, and the best men can never wholly divest themselves of passions and affections... nothing can or ought to be permanent but that which is perfect.

Everyone sees they cannot well live asunder, nor many together, without some rule to which all must submit.

A general presumption that Icings will govern well, is not a sufficient security to the People... those who subjected themselves to the will of a man were governed by a beast.

Who will wear a shoe that hurts him, because the shoe-maker tells him 'tis well made?

Fruits are always of the same nature with the seeds and roots from which they come, and trees are known by the fruits they bear: as a man begets a man, and a beast a beast, that society of men which constitutes a government upon the foundation of justice.