The conqueror is regarded with awe the wise man commands our respect but it is only the benevolent man that wins our affection.

I hate organized religion. I think you have to love thy neighbor as thyself. I think you have to pick your own God and be true to him. I always say 'him' rather than 'her.' Maybe it's because of my generation but I don't like the idea of a female God. I see God as a benevolent male.

You shall always find what you created in your mind for instance a benevolent God or an evil Devil. Between them are countless facets. Therefore concentrate on the depth of your consciousness and on what you consider to be positive and good.

To feel much for others and little for ourselves to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections constitute the perfection of human nature.

But friendship is precious not only in the shade but in the sunshine of life and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

It is clearly better that property should be private but the use of it common and the special business of the legislator is to create in men this benevolent disposition.

The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.