The spirit of commerce... renders every man willing to live on his own property...& prevents the growth of luxury.

Men, who are rogues individually, are in the mass very honorable people.

You have to study a great deal to know a little.

We ought to be very cautious in the prosecution of magic and heresy. The attempt to put down these two crimes may be extremely perilous to liberty, and may be the origin of a number of petty acts of tyranny if the legislator be not on his guard; for as such an accusation does not bear directly on the overt acts of a citizen, but refers to the idea we entertain of his character.

A fondness for reading changes the inevitable dull hours of our life into exquisite hours of delight.

It is not the young people that degenerate; they are not spoiled till those of mature age are already sunk into corruption.

An injustice to one is a threat made to all