[A]ll popular and well-mixed governments [republics]. . . are ever established by wise and good men, and can … - Algernon Sidney

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There is no birth, there is no death; there is no coming, there is no going; there is no same, there is no different; there is no permanent self, there is no annihilation. We only think there is.

Algernon Sidney

[A]ll popular and well-mixed governments [republics]. . . are ever established by wise and good men, and can never be upheld otherwise than by virtue: The worst men always conspiring against them, they must fall, if the best have not power to preserve them. . . . [and] unless they be preserved in a great measure free from vices. . . .

Against, Fall, Men, Wise, Worst

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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.

Affections, Men, Passion, Perfect, Permanent

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, virtue, and the common good, will always have men to promote those ends; and that which intends the advancement of one man's desire and vanity, will abound in those that will foment them.

Foundation, Man, Men, Roots, Vanity

[L]iberty cannot be preserved, if the manners of the people are corrupted. . .

Corrupted, Liberty, People, Preserved, Virtue

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

Hurt, Hurts, Makers, Shoes, Tells, Wear

Machiavel, discoursing on these matters, finds virtue to be so essentially necessary to the establishment and preservation of liberty, that he thinks it impossible for a corrupted people to set up a good government, or for a tyranny to be introduced if they be virtuous; and makes this conclusion, 'That where the matter (that is, the body of the people) is not corrupted, tumults and disorders do not hurt; and where it is corrupted, good laws do no good:' which being confirmed by reason and experience, I think no wise man has ever contradicted him.

Hurt, Machiavel, Men, People, Tumults, Wise