What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a new world but his having gone to search for it on the faith of an opinion.

All is more or less proper to serve as a common measure, in proportion as it is more or less in general use, of a more similar quality, and more easy to be divided into aliquot parts. All is more or less applicable for the purpose of a general pledge of exchange, in proportion as it is less susceptible of decay or alteration in quantity or quality.

Gold and silver are constituted, by the nature of things, money, and universal money, independent of all convention, and of all laws.

The whole mass of humanity . . . marches constantly, though slowly, toward greater perfection.

What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a new world but his having gone to search for it on the faith of an opinion.

All money is essentially merchandize.

Scrupulous people are not suited to great affairs.