The poorest being that crawls on earth, contending to save itself from injustice and oppression, is an object respectable in the eyes of God and man.

Nothing, indeed, but the possession of some power can with any certainty discover what at the bottom is the true character of any man.

It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals that their maxims have a plausible air; and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin; and about as valuable.

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.

Poetry, with all its obscurity, has a more general as well as a more powerful dominion over the passions than the art of painting.

All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they may alter the mode and application, but have no power over the substance of original justice.

All persons possessing any portion of power ought to be strongly and awfully impressed with an idea that they act in trust, and that they are to account for their conduct in that trust to the one great Master, Author, and Founder of society.