There is no word or action but may be taken with two hands,--either with the right hand of charitable construction, or the sinister interpretation of malice and suspicion; and all things do succeed as they are taken. To construe an evil, action well is but a pleasing and profitable deceit to myself; but to misconstrue a good thing is a treble wrong,--to myself, the action, and the author.

What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!

If religion might be judged of according to men's intentions, there would scarcely be any idolatry in the world.

We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.

Good prayers never come creeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.

Let me know myself; let others guess at me.

A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.