I ought not to doubt the steadiness of your affection. Yet such is the inconsistency of real love, that it is always awake to suspicion, however unreasonable; always requiring new assurances from the object of its interest, and thus it is, that i always feel revived, as by a new convinction, when your words tell me I am dear to you; and wanting these, I relapse into doubt and often into despondency.

I tasted too what was called the sweet of revenge - but it was transient, it expired even with the object, that provoked it.

To discover depravity in those whom we have loved, is one of the most exquisite tortures to a virtuous mind, and the conviction is often rejected before it is finally admitted.

One act of beneficence, one act of real usefulness, is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world.

I never trust people's assertions, I always judge of them by their actions.

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

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.