Though men of delicate taste be rare, they are easily to be distinguished in society by the soundness of their understanding, and the superiority of their faculties above the rest of mankind.

The heart of man is made to reconcile the most glaring contradictions.

No one can doubt, that the convention for the distinction of property, and for the stability of possession, is of all circumstances the most necessary to the establishment of human society, and that after the agreement for the fixing and observing of this rule, there remains little or nothing to be done towards settling a perfect harmony and concord.

In a vain man, the smallest spark may kindle into the greatest flame, because the materials are always prepared for it.

Nothing more powerfully excites any affection than to conceal some part of its object, by throwing it into a kind of shade, whichat the same time that it shows enough to prepossess us in favour of the object, leaves still some work for the imagination.

Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.

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