Our liberty cannot be taken away unless the people are themselves accomplices.
Henry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeWhatever study tends neither directly nor indirectly to make us better men and citizens is at best but a specious and ingenious sort of idleness; and the knowledge we acquire by it only a creditable kind of ignorance, nothing more.
Henry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeCunning pays no regard to virtue, and is but the low mimic of reason.
Henry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeA long novitiate of acquaintance should precede the vows of friendship.
Henry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeIt is the modest, not the presumptuous, inquirer who makes a real and safe progress in the discovery of divine truths. One follows Nature and Nature's God; that is, he follows God in his works and in his word.
Henry St John, 1st Viscount BolingbrokeAs well as might we say that a ship is built, loaded and manned for the sake of any particular pilot, instead of acknowledging that the pilot is made for the sake of the ship, her lading, and her crew, who are always the owners in the political vessel; as to say that kingdoms were instituted for kings, not kings for kingdoms.
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke