Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it; anything but live for it.

The science of legislation is like that of medicine in one respect: that it is far more easy to point out what will do harm than what will do good.

Perhaps that is nearly the perfection of good writing which is original, but whose truth alone prevents the reader from suspecting that it is so; and which effects that for knowledge which the lens effects for the sunbeam, when it condenses its brightness in order to increase its force.

Time,- that black and narrow isthmus between two eternities.

There are two modes of establishing our reputation; to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues.

There is more jealousy between rival wits than rival beauties, for vanity has no sex. But in both cases there must be pretensions, or there will be no jealousy.

Secrecy is the soul of all great designs. Perhaps more has been effected by concealing our own intentions than by discovering those of our enemy.