To admit that there is any such thing as chance, in the common acceptation of the term, would be to attempt to establish a power independent of God.

When we live habitually with the wicked, we become necessarily either their victim or their disciple; when we associate, on the contrary, with virtuous men, we form ourselves in imitation of their virtues, or, at least, lose every day something of our faults.

Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate the nearer we arrive unto it. For what do we truly know, or what can we clearly affirm, of any one of those important things upon which all our reasonings must of necessity be built--time and space, life and death, matter and mind?

The whole family of pride and ignorance are incestuous, and mutually beget each other

A fool is often as dangerous to deal with as a knave, and always more incorrigible.

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

The greatest and most amiable privilege which the rich enjoy over the poor is that which they exercise the least--the privilege of making others happy.