Grief and disappointment give rise to anger, anger to envy, envy to malice, and malice to grief again, till the whole circle be completed.

The bigotry of theologians is a malady which seems almost incurable.

To have recourse to the veracity of the supreme Being, in order to prove the veracity of our senses, is surely making a very unexpected circuit.

Avarice, or the desire of gain, is a universal passion which operates at all times, at all places, and upon all persons.

Men are much oftener thrown on their knees by the melancholy than by the agreeable passions.

Nothing can be more unphilosophical than to be positive or dogmatical on any subject; and even if excessive scepticism could be maintained it would not be more destructive to all just reasoning and inquiry. When men are the most sure and arrogant, they are commonly the most mistaken, and have there given reins to passion, without that proper deliberation and suspense which can alone secure them from the grossest absurdities.

A propensity to hope and joy is real riches; one to fear and sorrow real poverty.