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.

It is the duty of every one to strive to gain and deserve a good reputation.

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.

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

A good character when established should not be rested in as an end, but only employed as a means of doing still further good.

Modesty teaches us to speak of the ancients with respect, especially when we are not very familiar with their works. Newton, who knew them practically by heart, had the greatest respect for them, and considered them to be men of genius and superior intelligence who had carried their discoveries in every field much further than we today suspect, judging from what remains of their writings. More ancient writings have been lost than have been preserved, and perhaps our new discoveries are of less value than those that we have lost.