The religious hypothesis, therefore, must be considered only as a particular method of accounting for the visible phenomena of the universe: but no just reasoner will ever presume to infer from it any single fact, and alter or add to the phenomena, in any single particular.

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

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

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

The simplest and most obvious cause which can there be assigned for any phenomena, is probably the true one.

The consequence of a very free commerce between the sexes, and of their living much together, will often terminate in intrigues and gallantry.

The richest genius, like the most fertile soil, when uncultivated, shoots up into the rankest weeds.