Flattery is no more than what raises in a man's mind an idea of a preference which he has not.

England and Ireland may flourish together. The world is large enough for both of us. Let it be our care not to make ourselves too little for it.

Those who attempt to level never equalize

To tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.

Power gradually extirpates from the mind every humane and gentle virtue.

Instead of casting away all our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree, and, to take more shame to ourselves, we cherish them because they are prejudices; and the longer they have lasted and the more generally they have prevailed, the more we cherish them. We are afraid to put men to live and trade each on his own private stock of reason; because we suspect that this stock in each man is small, and that the individuals would do better to avail themselves of the general bank and capital of nations and of ages.

It is hard to say whether doctors of law or divinity have made the greater advances in the lucrative business of mystery.