Strength and weakness of mind are misnomers; they are really nothing but the good or bad health of our bodily organs.

For the credit of virtue we must admit that the greatest misfortunes of men are those into which they fall through their crimes.

When we seek reconciliation with our enemies, it is commonly out of a desire to better our own condition, a being harassed and tired out with a state of war, and a fear of some ill accident which we are willing to prevent.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.

Boredom ... causes us to neglect more duties than does interest.

Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats.

We should not judge a man's merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them.