Private property ... is a Creature of Society, and is subject to the Calls of that Society, whenever its Necessities shall require it, even to its last Farthing, its contributors therefore to the public Exigencies are not to be considered a Benefit on the Public, entitling the Contributors to the Distinctions of Honor and Power, but as the Return of an Obligation previously received, or as payment for a just Debt.

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.

Let the child's first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.

If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, “the greatest prodigality'; since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again'; and 'What we call time enough always proves little enough'. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.

A fine genius in his own country is like gold in the mine.

Love of country is the Mason's deed; world citizenship is his thought.