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.

If the show of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure sincerity is better; for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have such a quality as he pretends to?

Of all parts of wisdom the practice is the best.

Though all afflictions are evils in themselves, yet they are good for us, because they discover to us our disease and tend to our cure.

None so nearly disposed to scoffing at religion as those who have accustomed themselves to swear on trifling occasions.

Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out. It is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a man's invention upon the rack; and one trick needs a great many more to make it good.

No man's body is as strong as his appetites, but Heaven has corrected the boundlessness of his voluptuous desires by stinting his strength and contracting his capacities.