A perfect democracy is therefore the most shameless thing in the world.

There ought to be system of manners in every nation which a well-formed mind would be disposed to relish. To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely.

Religion is for the man in humble life, and to raise his nature, and to put him in mind of a state in which the privileges of opulence will cease, when he will be equal by nature, and may be more than equal by virtue.

Nothing is so rash as fear; and the counsels of pusillanimity very rarely put off, whilst they are always sure to aggravate, the evils from which they would fly.

Facts are to the mind what food is to the body.

To speak of atrocious crime in mild language is treason to virtue.

All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.