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.

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

Guilt is a spiritual Rubicon.

If cowardice were not so completely a coward as to be unable to look steadily upon the effects of courage, he would find that there is no refuge so sure as dauntless valor.

Virtue, without the graces, is like a rich diamond unpolished--it hardly looks better than a common pebble; but when the hand of the master rubs off the roughness, and forms the sides into a thousand brilliant surfaces, it is then that we acknowledge its worth, admire its beauty, and long to wear it in our bosoms.

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

A generous spirit is as eloquent in acknowledging benefits as it is bounteous in bestowing them.