Common sense suits itself to the ways of the world. Wisdom tries to confirm to the ways of heaven.

Life is a country that the old have seen, and lived in. Those who have to travel through it can only learn from them.

It is an aspect of all happiness to suppose that we deserve it.

Our worries always come from our weaknesses.

History needs distance, perspective. Facts and events which are too well attested cease, in some sort, to be malleable.

Be charitable and indulge to everyone, but thyself.

Forms of government become established of themselves. They shape themselves, they are not created. We may give them strength and consistency, but we cannot call them into being. Let us rest assured that the form of government can never be a matter of choice: it is almost always a matter of necessity.