Human happiness seems to consist in three ingredients: action, pleasure and indolence.

For the purposes of life and conduct, and society, a little good sense is surely better than all this genius, and a little good humour than this extreme sensibility.

All knowledge resolves itself into probability. ... In every judgment, which we can form concerning probability, as well as concerning knowledge, we ought always to correct the first judgment deriv'd from the nature of the object, by another judgment, deriv'd from the nature of the understanding.

To be a philosophical sceptic is, in a man of letters, the first and most essential to being a sound, believing Christian.

Almost every one has a predominant inclination, to which his other desires and affections submit, and which governs him, though perhaps with some intervals, though the whole course of his life.

Be a philosopher but, amid all your philosophy be still a man.

Self-denial is a monkish virtue.