Greek is a musical and prolific language, that gives a soul to the objects of sense, and a body to the abstractions of philosophy.

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.

Greek is doubtless the most perfect [language] that has been contrived by the art of man.

[But] the man who dares not expose his life in the defence of his children and his property, has lost in society the first and most active energies of nature.

The history of empires is the record of human misery; the history of the sciences is that of the greatness and happiness of mankind.

The slightest force, when it is applied to assist and guide the natural descent of its object, operates with irresistible weight; and Jovian had the good fortune to embrace the religious opinions which were supported by the spirit of the times and the zeal and numbers of the most powerful sect. Under his reign, Christianity obtained an easy and lasting victory; and, as soon as the smile of royal patronage was withdrawn, the genius of Paganism, which had been fondly raised and cherished by the arts of Julian, sunk irrecoverably in the dust.

[We should] suspend our belief of every tale that deviates from the laws of nature and the character of man.