A power to dispose of estates for ever is manifestly absurd. The earth and the fulness of it belongs to every generation, and the preceding one can have no right to bind it up from posterity. Such extension of property is quite unnatural.

Men desire to have some share in the management of public affairs chiefly on account of the importance which it gives them.

The man of system is apt to be very wise in his own conceit. In the great chess board of human society, every single piece has a principle of motion of its own altogether different from that which the legislature might choose to impress upon it

Virtue is more to be feared than vice, because its excesses are not subject to the regulation of conscience.

Problems worthy of attacks, prove their worth by hitting back

In general, if any branch of trade, or any division of labour, be advantageous to the public, the freer and more general the competition, it will always be the more so.

A true party-man hates and despises candour.