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

Never literary attempt was more unfortunate than my Treatise of Human Nature. It fell dead-born from the press.

It is with books as with women, where a certain plainness of manner and of dress is more engaging than that glare of paint and airs and apparel which may dazzle the eye, but reaches not the affections.

Courage, of all national qualities, is the most precarious; because it is exerted only at intervals, and by a few in every nation; whereas industry, knowledge, civility, may be of constant and universal use, and for several ages, may become habitual to the whole people.

Everything in the world is purchased by labor.

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

God is an ever-present spirit guiding all that happens to a wise and holy end.