A very prosperous people, flushed with great victories and successes, are seldom so pious, so humble, so just, or so provident as to perpetuate their happiness.

He who performs his duty in a station of great power must needs incur the utter enmity of many, and the high displeasure of more.

A just and wise magistrate is a blessing as extensive as the community to which he belongs; a blessing which includes all other blessings whatsoever that relate to this life.

The things of another world being distant, operate but faintly upon us: to remedy this inconvenience, we must frequently revolve their certainty and importance.

The greater absurdities are, the more strongly they evince the falsity of that supposition from whence they flow.

Affliction is a school of virtue; it corrects levity, and interrupts the confidence of sinning.

There is a variety in tempers of good men.