Prudence is a necessary ingredient in all the virtues, without which they degenerate into folly and excess.

People's opinions of themselves are legible in their countenances.

True courage is the result of reasoning. A brave mind is always impregnable.

Dangerous principles impose upon our understanding, emasculate our spirits, and spoil our temper.

Vanity is a strong temptation to lying; it makes people magnify their merit, over flourish their family, and tell strange stories of their interest and acquaintance.

Envy is of all others the most ungratifying and disconsolate passion. There is power for ambition, pleasure for luxury, and pelf even for covetousness; but envy gets no reward but vexation.

Hope is a vigorous principle; it is furnished with light and heat to advise and execute; it sets the head and heart to work, and animates a man to do his utmost. And thus, by perpetually pushing and assurance, it puts a difficulty out of countenance, and makes a seeming impossibility give way.