In such a strait the wisest may well be perplexed and the boldest staggered.

Next to love, Sympathy is the divinest passion of the human heart.

I would rather sleep in the southern corner of a little country churchyard than in the tomb of the Capulets.

To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.

In a democracy the majority of citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority...and that oppression of the majority will extend to far great number, and will be carried on with much greater fury, than can almost ever be apprehended from the dominion of a single sceptre. Under a cruel prince they have the plaudits of the people to animate their generous constancy under their sufferings; but those who are subjected to wrong under multitudes are deprived of all external consolation: they seem deserted by mankind, overpowered by a conspiracy of their whole species.

The love of lucre, though sometimes carried to a ridiculous excess, a vicious excess, is the grand cause of prosperity to all States.

Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing.