It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, by leaving much to free will, even with some loss of the object , than to attempt to make men mere machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world on the whole will gain by a liberty, without which virtue cannot exist.

Taxing is an easy business. Any projector can contrive new compositions, any bungler can add to the old.

All men that are ruined, are ruined on the side of their natural propensities.

I do not know the method of drawing up an indictment against a whole people.

General rebellions and revolts of a whole people never were encouraged now or at any time. They are always provoked.

Greater mischief happens often from folly, meanness, and vanity than from the greater sins of avarice and ambition.

The nature of things is, I admit, a sturdy adversary.