A man's profundity may keep him from opening on a first interview, and his caution on a second; but I should suspect his emptiness, if he carried on his reserve to a third.

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

Law and equity are two things which God has joined, but which man has put asunder.

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.

To judge by the event is an error all commit: for in every instance courage, if crowned with success, is heroism; if clouded by defeat, temerity. When Nelson fought his battle in the Sound, it was the result alone that decided whether he was to kiss a hand at court or a rod at a court-martial.

Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but in the negation of that which is false.

When in reading we meet with any maxim that may be of use, we should take it for our own, and make an immediate application of it, as we would of the advice of a friend whom we have purposely consulted.