Guilt is a spiritual Rubicon.

Virtue is despotic; life, reputation, every earthly good, must be surrendered at her voice. The law may seem hard, but it is the guardian of what it commands; and is the only sure defence of happiness.

I never yet heard man or woman much abused, that I was not inclined to think the better of them; and to transfer any suspicion or dislike, to the person who appeared to take delight in pointing out the defects of a fellow-creature.

In his fairy dreams of war [Thaddeus] always made conquest the sure end of his battles.

It is not designed that the road should be made too smooth for us here upon earth.

Magnanimity is above circumstance; and any virtue which depends on that is more of constitution than of principle.

The only impregnable citadel of virtue is religion; for there is no bulwark of mere morality, which some temptation may not overtop or undermine, and destroy.