The maxim that men are not to be praised before their death was invented by envy and too lightly adopted by philosophers.

If virtue were its own reward, it would no longer be a human quality, but supernatural.

It is not in everyone's power to secure wealth, office, or honors; but everyone may be good, generous, and wise.

We are dismayed when we find that even disaster cannot cure us of our faults.

We have neither the strength nor the opportunity to accomplish all the good and all the evil which we design.

Clearness ornaments profound thoughts.

Excessive distrust is not less hurtfJul than its opposite. Most men become useless to him who is unwilling to risk being deceived.