Experience shows that the frequent use of severe punishment has never rendered a people better. The death of a criminal is a less effective means of restraining crimes than the permanent example of a man deprived of his liberty during the whole of his life to make amends for the injury he has done to the public.

Your wits make others witty.

self-interest usually brings injustice with it.

Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.

What right can give anyone authority to inflict torture upon a citizen when it is still unknown whether he is innocent or guilty?

I may be kindly, I am ordinarily gentle, but in my line of business I am obliged to will terribly what I will at all.

the title of Queen rang sweet to my ears, child though I was. ... This idea of a crown began running in my head then like a tune, and has been running a lot in it ever since.