An entire life of solitude contradicts the purpose of our being, since death itself is scarcely an idea of more terror.

For there is in mankind an unfortunate propensity to make themselves, their views and their works, the measure of excellence in every thing whatsoever

When you find me attempting to break into your house to take your plate, under any pretence whatsoever, but most of all under pretence of purity of religion and Christian charity shoot me for a robber and a hypocrite, as in that case I shall certainly be.

We must not always judge of the generality of the opinion by the noise of the acclamation.

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

We must soften into a credulity below the milkiness of infancy to think all men virtuous. We must be tainted with a malignity truly diabolical, to believe all the world to be equally wicked and corrupt.

Great men are never sufficiently shown but in struggles.