There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.

An evil intention perverts the best actions, and makes them sins.

One of the most important but one of the most difficult things for a powerful mind is to be its own master.

A state of temperance, sobriety and justice without devotion is a cold, lifeless, insipid condition of virtue, and is rather to be styled philosophy than religion.

There are no more useful members in a commonwealth than merchants. They knit mankind together in a mutual intercourse of good offices, distribute the gifts of Nature, find work for the poor, and wealth to the rich, and magnificence to the great.

An honest man, that is not quite sober, has nothing to fear.

Mankind are more indebted to industry than ingenuity; the gods set up their favors at a price, and industry is the purchaser.