Adversity is a severe instructor, set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves, as he loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper. This conflict with difficulty makes us acquainted with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial.

What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue!

When slavery is established in any part of the world, those who are free are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom.

By hating vices too much, they come to love men too little.

I dread our own power, and our own ambition; I dread our being too much dreaded... We may say that we shall not abuse this astonishing, and hitherto unheard-of-power. But every other nation will think we shall abuse it. It is impossible but that, sooner or later, this state of things must produce a combination against us which may end in our ruin.

By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation.

There is a boundary to men's passions when they act from feelings; but none when they are under the influence of imagination.