The hours of a wise man are lengthened by his ideas, as those of a fool are by his passions. The time of the one is long, because he does not know what to do with it; so is that of the other, because he distinguishes every moment of it with useful or amusing thoughts--or, in other words, because the one is always wishing it away, and the other always enjoying it.

This not in mortals to command success, but we'll do more, Sempronius, we'll deserve it.

Prejudice and self-sufficiency naturally proceed from inexperience of the world, and ignorance of mankind.

Suspicion is not less an enemy to virtue than to happiness; he that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly be corrupt.

There is nothing in which men more deceive themselves than in what they call zeal.

Heaven is not to be looked upon only as the reward, but the natural effect, of a religious life.

But silence never shows itself to so great an advantage, as when it is made the reply to calumny and defamation, provided that we give no just occasion for them.