We maintain, and have said in the Ethics, if the arguments there adduced are of any value, that happiness is the realization and perfect exercise of virtue, and this not conditional, but absolute. And I used the term 'conditional' to express that which is indispensable, and 'absolute' to express that which is good in itself.

Democracy arises out of the notion that those who are equal in any respect are equal in all respects; because men are equally free, they claim to be absolutely equal.

Speech is the representation of the mind, and writing is the representation of speech.

For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first.

The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.

Try is a noisy way of doing nothing.

Dissimilarity of habit tends more than anything to destroy affection.