“Are the worst enemies of society those who attack it or those who do not even give themselves the trouble of defending it?”

“We believe in shouting for those who can only whisper, in defending those who cannot defend themselves.”

“or he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new. This lukewarm temper arises partly from the fear of adversaries who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who will never admit the merit of anything new, until they have seen it proved by the event. The result, however, is that whenever the enemies of change make an attack, they do so with all the zeal of partisans, while the others defend themselves so feebly as to endanger both themselves and their cause.”

“I know not which I prefer the look of—those who attack us or that which defends us!”

“When I thought of the word "man," I could only think of those who could defend themselves and those they loved.”

“A man who can own pearls does not bother about shells, and those who aspire to virtue do not trouble themselves over honors.”