By looking into physical causes our minds are opened and enlarged; and in this pursuit, whether we take or whether we lose the game, the chase is certainly of service.

All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they may alter the mode and application, but have no power over the substance of original justice.

Spain: A whale stranded upon the coast of Europe.

By this unprincipled facility of changing the state as often, and as much, and in as many ways as there are floating fancies or fashions, the whole chain and continuity of the commonwealth would be broken. No one generation could link with the other. Men would become little better than the flies of a summer.

In doing good, we are generally cold, and languid, and sluggish; and of all things afraid of being too much in the right. But theworks of malice and injustice are quite in another style. They are finished with a bold, masterly hand; touched as they are with the spirit of those vehement passions that call forth all our energies, whenever we oppress and persecute.

There are some men formed with feelings so blunt that they can hardly be said to be awake during the whole course of their lives.

Man acts from adequate motives relative to his interest, and not on metaphysical speculations.