Truth is not exciting enough to those who depend on the characters and lives of their neighbors for all their amusement; and if a story is told of more than common interest, ennui is sure to have its joy in adding embellishments. If hours did not hang heavy, what would become of scandal?

The prejudices of ignorance are more easily removed than the prejudices of interest; the first are blindly adopted; the second wilfully preferred.

In nine times out of ten, the slanderous tongue belongs to a disappointed person.

Sedition is bred in the lap of luxury and its chosen emissaries are the beggared spendthrift and the impoverished libertine.

By common consent, gray hairs are a crown of glory: the only object of respect that can never excite envy.

Dishonesty is so grasping it would deceive God himself, were it possible.

The best government rests on the people, and not on the few, on persons and not on property, on the free development of public opinion and not on authority.