All ills spring from some vice, either in ourselves or others; and even many of our diseases proceed from the same origin. Remove the vices; and the ills follow. You must only take care to remove all the vices. If you remove part, you may render the matter worse. By banishing vicious luxury, without curing sloth and an indifference to others, you only diminish industry in the state, and add nothing to men's charity or their generosity.

To philosopher and historian the madness and imbecile wickedness of mankind ought to appear ordinary events.

Nothing is more favorable to the rise of politeness and learning, than a number of neighboring and independent states, connected together by commerce and policy.

Nothing endears so much a friend as sorrow for his death. The pleasure of his company has not so powerful an influence.

It is more rational to suspect knavery and folly than to discount, at a stroke, everything that past experience has taught me about the way things actually work

When we reflect on the shortness and uncertainty of life, how despicable seem all our pursuits of happiness.

The supposition that the future resembles the past, is not founded on arguments of any kind, but is derived entirely from habit.