Passion often makes fools of the wisest men and gives the silliest wisdom.

A readiness to believe ill of others, before we have duly examined it, is the effect of laziness and pride. We are eager to find aculprit, and loath to give ourselves the trouble of examining the crime.

However evil men may be they dare not be openly hostile to virtue, and so when they want to attack it they pretend to find it spurious , or impute crimes to it.

Love's greatest miracle is the curing of coquetry.

Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.

Weakness is more opposed to virtue than is vice.

It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It is only the passions that have the power of bringing them to light, and sometimes give us views more true and more perfect than art could possibly do.