Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.

With the offspring of genius, the law of parturition is reversed; the throes are in the conception, the pleasure in the birth.

Perfection doesn't exist... only good attempts.

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores.

He that studies books alone, will know how things ought to be; and he that studies men, will know how things are.

If you are under obligations to many, it is prudent to postpone the recompensing of one, until it be in your power to remunerate all; otherwise you will make more enemies by what you give, than by what you withhold.