Every man carries about him a touchstone, if he will make use of it, to distinguish substantial gold from superficial glitterings, truth from appearances. And indeed the use and benefit of this touchstone, which is natural reason, is spoiled and lost only by assuming prejudices, overweening presumption, and narrowing our minds.

It is practice alone that brings the powers of the mind, as well as those of the body, to their perfection.

There cannot any one moral rule be proposed whereof a man may not justly demand a reason. Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has any right to but himself. The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.

Untruth being unacceptable to the mind of man, there is no other defence left for absurdity but obscurity.

Curiosity should be as carefully cherish'd in children, as other appetites suppress'd.

He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.

'Tis true that governments cannot be supported without great charge, and it is fit everyone who enjoys a share of protection should pay out of his estate his proportion of the maintenance of it.