It is in the middle classes of society that all the finest feeling, and the most amiable propensities of our nature do principally nourish and abound. For the good opinion of our fellow-men is the strongest though not the purest motive to virtue. The privations of poverty render us too cold and callous, and the privileges of property too arrogant and confidential, to feel; the first places us beneath the influence of opinion--the second, above it.

There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them.

Men of great and shining qualities do not always succeed in life, but the fault lies more often in themselves than in others.

If our eloquence be directed above the heads of our hearers, we shall do no execution. By pointing our arguments low, we stand a chance of hitting their hearts as well as their heads. In addressing angels, we could hardly raise our eloquence too high; but we must remember that men are not angels.

"Lawyers Are": The only civil delinquents whose judges must of necessity be chosen from (amongst) themselves.

Taking things not as they ought to be, but as they are, I fear it must be allowed that Macchiavelli will always have more disciples than Jesus.

If a horse has four legs, and I'm riding it, I think I can win.