Some pretences daunt and discourage us, while others raise us to a brisk assurance.

That though we are certain of many things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remains the possibility of our being mistaken in all matters of humane Belief and Inquiry.

We have a mistaken notion of antiquity, calling that so which in truth is the world's nonage.

What's impossible to all humanity may be possible to the metaphysics and physiology of angels.

They that never peeped beyond the common belief in which their easy understandings were at first indoctrinated are strongly assured of the truth of their receptions.

Time, as a river, hath brought down to us what is more light and superficial, while things more solid and substantial have been immersed.

And the will therein lieth, which dieth not. Who knoweth the mysteries of the will, with its vigor? For God is but a great will pervading all things by nature of its intentness, Man doth not yield himself to the angels, nor unto death utterly, save only through the weakness of his feeble will.