The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity.

It is very rare, indeed, for men to be wrong in their feelings concerning public misconduct; as rare to be right in their speculations upon the cause of it. I have constantly observed that the generality of people are fifty years, at least, behind in their politics.

Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other.

A very great part of the mischiefs that vex the world arises from words.

You can never plan the future by the past.

Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites.

Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.