Would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason.

There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government.

What good shall I do this day?

This gave me occasion to observe, that when Men are employ'd they are best contented. For on the Days they work'd they were good-natur'd and chearful; and with the consciousness of having done a good Days work they spent the Evenings jollily; but on the idle Days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with their Pork, the Bread, and in continual ill-humour. (Autobiography, 1771)

Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a vigorous Mind, and be acquainted also with the wonderful Works of God? labour in the first place to bring thy Appetite into Subjection to Reason.

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.

If we restrict liberty to attain security we will lose them both.