As a man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are, so the sceptic, in a vain attempt to be wise beyond what is permitted to man, plunges into a darkness more deplorable, and a blindness more incurable than that of the common herd, whom he despises, and would fain instruct.

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

Vice has more martyrs than virtue; and it often happens that men suffer more to be lost than to be saved.

The seat of perfect contentment is in the head; for every individual is thoroughly satisfied with his own proportion of brains.

If a book really wants the patronage of a great name, it is a bad book; and if it be a good book, it wants it not.

Injuries accompanied with insults are never forgiven: all men, on these occasions, are good haters, and lay out their revenge at compound interest.

When the air balloon was first discovered, some one flippantly asked Dr. Franklin what was the use of it. The doctor answered this question by asking another: "What is the use of a new-born infant? It may become a man."