When some passion or effect is described in a natural style, we find within ourselves the truth of what we hear, without knowing it was there.

Undoubtedly equality of goods is just; but, being unable to cause might to obey justice, men has made it just to obey might. Unable to strengthen justice, they have justified might--so that the just and the strong should unite, and there should be peace, which is the sovereign good.

When we read too fast or too slowly, we understand nothing.

To be mistaken in believing that the Christian religion is true is no great loss to anyone; but how dreadful to be mistaken in believing it to be false!

The consciousness of the falsity of present pleasures, and the ignorance of the vanity of absent pleasures, cause inconstancy.

[On vanity:] The nose of Cleopatra: if it had been shorter, the face of the earth would have changed.

There is a God-shaped hole in the life of every man.