My vigour relents. I pardon something to the spirit of liberty.

I despair of ever receiving the same degree of pleasure from the most exalted performances of genius which I felt in childhood from pieces which my present judgment regards as trifling and contemptible.

It is an advantage to all narrow wisdom and narrow morals that their maxims have a plausible air; and, on a cursory view, appear equal to first principles. They are light and portable. They are as current as copper coin; and about as valuable.

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.

Crimes lead into one another. They who are capable of being forgers, are capable of being incendiaries.

Beauty is the promise of happiness.

There is a time when the hoary head of inveterate abuse will neither draw reverence nor obtain protection.