The problem with common sense is, it isn't.

What maintains one vice would bring up two children.

A virtuous heretic shall be saved before a wicked Christian.

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone.

Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all virtues. Be active in business, that temptation may miss her aim; the bird that sits is easily shot.

My dear friend, do not imagine that I am vain enough to ascribe our success [Revolution] to any superiority . . . If it had not been for the justice of our cause, and the consequent interposition of Providence, in which we had faith, we must have been ruined. If I had ever before been an atheist, I should now have been convinced of the being and government of a Deity!

Mankind naturally and generally love to be flatter'd.