Let us suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience.

Earthly minds, like mud walls, resist the strongest batteries; and though, perhaps, sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they nevertheless stand firm, keep out the enemy, truth, that would captivate or disturbe them.

Fashion for the most part is nothing but the ostentation of riches.

Where there is no property there is no injustice.

Good and evil, reward and punishment, are the only motives to a rational creature

Error is none the better for being common, nor truth the worse for having lain neglected.

The Church which taught men not to keep faith with heretics, had no claim to toleration.