Almost all rich veins of original and striking speculation have been opened by systematic half-thinkers.

Marriage is the only actual bondage known to our law. There remain no legal slaves, except the mistress of every house.

Instead of the function of governing, for which it is radically unfit, the proper office of a representative assembly is to watch and control the government.

It is a bitter thought, how different a thing the Christianity of the world might have been, if the Christian faith had been adopted as the religion of the empire under the auspices of Marcus Aurelius instead of those of Constantine.

It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.

A people may prefer a free government, but if, from indolence, or carelessness, or cowardice, or want of public spirit, they are unequal to the exertions necessary for preserving it. They are more or less unfit for liberty; and although it may be for their good to have had it even for a short time, they are unlikely long to enjoy it

Even if the received opinion be not only true, but the whole truth; unless it is suffered to be, and actually is, vigorously and earnestly contested, it will, by most of those who receive it, be held in the manner of a prejudice, with little comprehension or feeling of its rational grounds