All that belongs to human understanding, in this deep ignorance and obscurity, is to be sceptical, or at least cautious, and not to admit of any hypothesis whatever, much less of any which is supported by no appearance of probability.

Uncommon expressions are a disfigurement rather than an embellishment of discourse.

The simplest and most obvious cause which can there be assigned for any phenomena, is probably the true one.

Where ambition can cover its enterprises, even to the person himself, under the appearance of principle, it is the most incurable and inflexible of passions

It is harder to avoid censure than to gain applause.

The heart of man is made to reconcile the most glaring contradictions.

The proper office of religion is to regulate the heart of men, humanize their conduct, infuse the spirit of temperance, order, andobedience; and as its operation is silent, and only enforces the motives of morality and justice, it is in danger of being overlooked, and confounded with these other motives.