Beauty may be the object of liking--great qualities of admiration--good ones of esteem--but love only is the object of love.

Adversity is the trial of principle. Without it, a man hardly knows whether he is honest or not.

Heroes, notwithstanding the high ideas which, by the means of flatterers, they may entertain of themselves, or the world may conceive of them, have certainly more of mortal than divine about them.

Considering the unforeseen events of this world, we should be taught that no human condition should inspire men with absolute despair.

Prudence is a duty which we owe ourselves, and if we will be so much our own enemies as to neglect it, we are not to wonder if the world is deficient in discharging their duty to us; for when a man lays the foundation of his own ruin, others too often are apt to build upon it.

The slander of some people is as great a recommendation as the praise of others.

Wit, like hunger, will be with great difficulty restrained from falling on vice and ignorance, where there is great plenty and variety of food.