A single seed of fact will produce in a season or two a harvest of calumnies; but sensible men will pay no attention to them.

The first duty of an historian is to be on his guard against his own sympathies...

Where nature is sovereign, there is no need of austerity and self-denial.

Just laws are no restraint upon the freedom of the good, for the good man desires nothing which a just law will interfere with.

The practical effect of a belief is the real test of its soundness.

True greatness is the most ready to recognize and most willing to obey those simple outward laws which have been sanctioned by the experience of mankind.

Truth only smells sweet forever, and illusions, however innocent, are deadly as the canker worm.