On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.

Usually we praise only to be praised.

Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves nor take away from themselves.

There are some who never would have loved if they never had heard it spoken of.

We are lazier in our minds than in our bodies.

We make promises to the extent that we hope-and keep them to the extent that we fear.

There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted.