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

In effect, to follow, not to force the public inclination; to give a direction, a form, a technical dress, and a specific sanction, to the general sense of the community, is the true end of legislature.

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

Who can know her, and himself, and entertain much hope? Who can see and know such a creature, and not love her to distraction? She has all the softness that does not imply weakness... she is not made to be the admiration of everybody, but the happiness of one.

There are circumstances in which despair does not imply inactivity.

Adversity is a severe instructor, set over us by one who knows us better than we do ourselves.

It is undoubtedly true, though it may seem paradoxical,--but, in general, those who are habitually employed in finding and displaying faults are unqualified for the work of reformation.