It is wonderful how preposterously the affairs of the world are managed. We assemble parliaments and councils to have the benefit of collected wisdom, but we necessarily have, at the same time, the inconvenience of their collected passions, prejudices and private interests: for regulating commerce an assembly of great men is the greatest fool on earth

Let me resolve to be virtuous, that I may be happy, that I may please Him, who is delighted to see me happy. Amen.

Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

He that hath a Trade, hath an Estate.

The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked, than the supine, secure, and negligent.

If you can't pay for a thing, don't buy it. If you can't get paid for it, don't sell it.

Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have either one.