There should be weeping at a man's birth, not at his death.

It is clear that in a monarchy, where he who commands the exceution of the laws generally thinks himself above them, there is lessneed of virtue than in a popular government, where the person entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their direction.

I have ever held it as a maxim never to do that through another which it was impossible for me to execute myself

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.

When we seek after wit, we discover only foolishness.

The love of study is in us the only lasting passion. All the others quit us in proportion as this miserable machine which holds them approaches its ruins.

I shall ever repeat it, that mankind are governed not by extremes, but by principals of moderation.