Magnanimity in politics is not seldom the truest wisdom; and a great empire and little minds go ill together.

Men are as much blinded by the extremes of misery as by the extremes of prosperity.

Laws are commanded to hold their tongues among arms; and tribunals fall to the ground with the peace they are no longer able to uphold.

For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever

[Slavery] is a weed that grows in every soil.

The conduct of a losing party never appears right: at least it never can possess the only infallible criterion of wisdom to vulgar judgements-success.

Oppression makes wise men mad; but the distemper is still the madness of the wise, which is better than the sobriety of fools.