... The idea of God, as meaning an infinitely intelligent, wise and good Being, arises from reflecting on the operations of our own mind, and augmenting, without limit, those qualities of goodness and wisdom.

The proper office of religion is to regulate the heart of men, humanize their conduct, infuse the spirit of temperance, order, andobedience; and as its operation is silent, and only enforces the motives of morality and justice, it is in danger of being overlooked, and confounded with these other motives.

The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny.

The Christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one.

The rules of morality are not the conclusion of our reason.

Moving from an objective statement of fact to a subjective statement of value does not work, because it leaves open questions that have not been answered.

We may conclude, therefore, that, in order to establish laws for the regulation of property, we must be acquainted with the nature and situation of man; must reject appearances, which may be false, though specious; and must search for those rules, which are, on the whole, most useful and beneficial.