True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance.

Yet the New Testament treats of man and man's so-called spiritual affairs too exclusively, and is too constantly moral and personal, to alone content me, who am not interested solely in man's religious or moral nature, or in man even.

We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without.

He who parades his virtues seldom leads the parade. He who puts up with insult invites injury. Health requires this relaxation, this aimless life. This life in the present.

I am too easily contented with a slight and almost animal happiness. My happiness is a good deal like that of the woodchucks.

It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from their present pursuit.

If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose.