The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health.

Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we sacrifice one kind of self-love to another.

Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, even alive, would part with nothing.

Logic and metaphysics make use of more tools than all the rest of the sciences put together, and do the least work.

Custom is the law of one description of fools, and fashion of another; but the two parties often clash--for precedent is the legislator of the first, and novelty of the last. Custom, therefore, looks to things that are past, and fashion to things that are present.

I have found by experience that they who have spent all their lives in cities, improve their talents but impair their virtues; and strengthen their minds but weaken their morals.

Silence is less injurious than a weak reply.