When a man has once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast, and nothing will then serve his turn, neither truth nor falsehood.

If God were not a necessary Being of Himself, He might almost seem to be made for the use and benefit of men.

There is no readier way for a man to bring his own worth into question than by endeavoring to detract from the worth of other men.

The covetous man heaps up riches, not to enjoy them, but to have them; and starves himself in the midst of plenty, and most unnaturally cheats and robs himself of that which is his own; and makes a hard shift, to be as poor and miserable with a great estate, as any man can be without it.

In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is in reality so much power.

It is pleasant to be virtuous and good, because that is to excel many others; it is pleasant to grow better, because that is to excel ourselves; it is pleasant to mortify and subdue our lusts, because that is victory; it is pleasant to command our appetites and passions, and to keep them in due order within the bounds of reason and religion, because this is empire.

If they be principles evident of themselves, they need nothing to evidence them.