The principle of asceticism never was, nor ever can be, consistently pursued by any living creature. Let but one tenth part of the inhabitants of the earth pursue it consistently, and in a day's time they will have turned it into a Hell.

The said truth is that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.

As to the evil which results from censorship, it is impossible to measure it, because it is impossible to tell where it ends.

Nature has placed mankind under the government of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.

Publicity is the very soul of justice. It is the keenest spur to exertion, and the surest of all guards against improbity.

He who thinks and thinks for himself, will always have a claim to thanks; it is no matter whether it be right or wrong, so as it be explicit. If it is right, it will serve as a guide to direct; if wrong, as a beacon to warn.

The word "independence" is united to the accessory ideas of dignity and virtue. The word "dependence" is united to the ideas of inferiority and corruption.