If we trace the history of most revolutions, we shall find that the first inroads upon the laws have been made by the governors, as often as by the governed.

It was served of the Jesuits, that they constantly inculcated a thorough contempt of worldly things in their doctrines, but eagerly grasped at them in their lives. They were wise in their generation; for they cried down worldly things because they wanted to obtain them, and cried up spiritual things, because they wanted to dispose of them.

An Irish man fights before he reasons, a Scotchman reasons before he fights, an Englishman is not particular as to the order of precedence, but will do either to accommodate his customers.

Man is an embodied paradox, a bundle of contradictions.

The seat of perfect contentment is in the head; for every individual is thoroughly satisfied with his own proportion of brains.

Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom.

It is astonishing how much more people are interested in lengthening life than improving it.