A Vindication of the Rights of Men (2nd ed., 1790)

The book opens with

European civilization has refined manners at the expense of morals

Their wordsThe civilization which has taken place in Europe has been very partial, and, like every custom that an arbitrary point of honour has established, refines the manners at the expence of morals, by making sentiments and opinions current in conversation that have no root in the heart, or weight in the cooler resolves of the mind.

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Every claim below was made in this book, quoted word for word and numbered in the order the piece makes them, so you can read it there rather than take our word for it. The book prints chapter headings its extracted text does not preserve, so the claims below are in the book's order but not grouped. The sentence above each quote is our reading of the claim, not their wording. Each quote was checked against a stored copy of the page at build time; where the two differ, the quote is the fact.

Our reading
European civilization has refined manners at the expense of morals

Their wordsThe civilization which has taken place in Europe has been very partial, and, like every custom that an arbitrary point of honour has established, refines the manners at the expence of morals, by making sentiments and opinions current in conversation that have no root in the heart, or weight in the cooler resolves of the mind.
Our reading
English liberty has been reduced to the security of property, a selfish principle to which nobler ones are sacrificed

Their wordsSecurity of property! Behold, in a few words, the definition of English liberty. And to this selfish principle every nobler one is sacrificed.
Our reading
The passions are necessary helpers of reason

Their wordsThe passions are necessary auxiliaries of reason: a present impulse pushes us forward, and when we discover that the game did not deserve the chace, we find that we have gone over much ground, and not only gained many new ideas, but a habit of thinking.
Our reading
Property should circulate, divided more equally among a family's children, rather than entrenched by inheritance of the eldest son

Their wordsProperty, I do not scruple to aver it, should be fluctuating, which would be the case, if it were more equally divided amongst all the children of a family; else it is an everlasting rampart, in consequence of a barbarous feudal institution, that enables the elder son to overpower talents and depress virtue.
Our reading
The only rightful security of property is the right to enjoy and bequeath what one's own talents and industry acquired

Their wordsThe only security of property that nature authorizes and reason sanctions is, the right a man has to enjoy the acquisitions which his talents and industry have acquired; and to bequeath them to whom he chooses.

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