It is easier to pretend to be what you are not than to hide what you really are; but he that can accomplish both has little to learn in hypocrisy.

Most men know what they hate, few what they love.

Religion has treated knowledge sometimes as an enemy, sometimes as a hostage; often as a captive and more often as a child; but knowledge has become of age, and religion must either renounce her acquaintance, or introduce her as a companion and respect her as a friend.

There are three difficulties in authorship; to write any thing worth the publishing — to find honest men to publish it — and to get sensible men to read it.

By paying our other debts, we are equal with all mankind; but in refusing to pay a debt of revenge, we are superior.

It is more easy to forgive the weak who have injured us than the powerful whom we have injured.

Any one can give advice, such as it is, but only a wise man knows how to profit by it.