The ruin of a State is generally preceded by an universal degeneracy of manners and contempt of religion.

It is in disputes as in armies, where the weaker side sets up false lights, and makes a great noise, to make the enemy believe them more numerous and strong than they really are.

Many a truth is told in jest.

Argument, as usually managed, is the worst sort of conversation, as it is generally in books the worst sort of reading.

I can discover no political evil in suffering bullies, sharpers, and rakes, to rid the world of each other by a method of their own; where the law hath not been able to find an expedient.

There never appear more than five or six men of genius in an age, but if they were united the world could not stand before them.

The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.