Levity is often less foolish and gravity less wise than each of them appears.

Those graces which from their presumed facility encourage all to attempt an imitation of them, are usually the most inimitable.

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

Many speak the truth when they say that they despise riches, but they mean the riches possessed by others.

Where we cannot invent, we may at least improve; we may give somewhat of novelty to that which was old, condensation to that which was diffuse, perspicuity to that which was obscure, and currency to that which was recondite.

We often pretend to fear what we really despise, and more often despise what we really fear.

Despotism can no more exist in a nation until the liberty of the press be destroyed than the night can happen before the sun is set.