Virtue and taste are nearly the same, for virtue is little more than active taste, and the most delicate affections of each combine in real love.

There is some magic in wealth, which can thus make persons pay their court to it, when it does not even benefit themselves.

At first a small line of inconceivable splendour emerged on the horizon, which, quickly expanding, the sun appeared in all of his glory, unveiling the whole face of nature, vivifying every colour of the landscape, and sprinkling the dewy earth with glittering light.

Ignorance of true pleasure more frequently than temptation to that which is false, leads to vice.

How despicable is that humanity, which can be contented to pity, where it might assuage!

Happiness has this essential difference from what is commonly called pleasure, that virtue forms its basis, and virtue being the offspring of reason, may be expected to produce uniformity of effect.

When justice happens to oppose prejudice, we are apt to believe it virtuous to disobey her.