Edmund Burke

These few have the passions of the one; and they unite to strengthen themselves, and to secure the gratification of their lawless passions at the expense of the general good.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

In vain you tell me that artificial government is good, but that I fall out only with the abuse. The thing! the thing itself is the abuse!

Parties in religion and politics make sufficient discoveries concerning each other, to give a sober man a proper caution against them all.

I need not excuse myself to your Lordship, nor, I think, to any honest man, for the zeal I have shown in this cause; for it is an honest zeal, and in a good cause. I have defended natural religion against a confederacy of atheists and …

The writers against religion, whilst they oppose every system, are wisely careful never to set up any of their own.