The law of nature instructs most animals to cherish and educate their infant progeny. The law of reason inculcates to the human species the returns of filial piety.

Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation, that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.

But the power of instruction is seldom of much efficacy, except in those happy dispositions where it is almost superfluous.

[Courage] arises in a great measure from the consciousness of strength . . .

In their censures of luxury the fathers are extremely minute and circumstantial; and among the various articles which excite their pious indignation, we may enumerate false hair, garments of any colour except white, instruments of music, vases of gold or silver, downy pillows, white bread, foreign wines, public salutations, the use of warm baths, and the practice of shaving the beard, which, according to Tertullian, is a lie against our own faces, and am impious attempt to improve the works of the Creator.

[The] noblest of [Arabs] united the love of arms with the profession of merchandise.

The style of an author should be the image of his mind, but the choice and command of language is the fruit of exercise.