[It] is the interest as well as duty of a sovereign to maintain the authority of the laws.

Boethius might have been styled happy, if that precarious epithet could be safely applied before the last term of the life of man.

In the end, they wanted security more than they wanted freedom.

Our toil is lessened, and our wealth is increased, by our dominion over the useful animals . . .

The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful.

Hope, the best comfort of our imperfect condition, was not denied to the Roman slave; and if he had any opportunity of rendering himself either useful or agreeable, he might very naturally expect that the diligence and fidelity of a few years would be rewarded with the inestimable gift of freedom.

It was with the utmost difficulty that ancient Rome could support the institution of six vestals; but the primitive church was filled with a great number of persons of either sex who had devoted themselves to the profession of perpetual chastity.