If ... the past may be no Rule for the future, all Experience becomes useless and can give rise to no Inferences or Conclusions.

It is still open for me, as well as you, to regulate my behavior, by my experience of past events.

In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.

There is nothing, in itself, valuable or despicable, desirable or hateful, beautiful or deformed; but that these attributes arise from the particular constitution and fabric of human sentiment and affection.

He is happy whom circumstances suit his temper; but he Is more excellent who suits his temper to any circumstance.

Vanity is so closely allied to virtue, and to love the fame of laudable actions approaches so near the love of laudable actions for their own sake, that these passions are more capable of mixture than any other kinds of affection; and it is almost impossible to have the latter without some degree of the former.

It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.