All men have a feeling, that they would rather you told them a civil lie than give them a point blank refusal.... If you make a promise, the thing is still uncertain, depends on a future day, and concerns but few people; but if you refuse you alienate people to a certainty and at once, and many people too.

The study and knowledge of the universe would somehow be lame and defective were no practical results to follow.

God's law is 'right reason.' When perfectly understood it is called 'wisdom.' When applied by government in regulating human relations it is called 'justice.

The budget should be balanced, the treasury refilled, public debt reduced, the arrogance of officialdom tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt.

The first bond of society is the marriage tie; the next our children; then the whole family of our house, and all things in common.

Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book.

He is rich who wishes no more than he has.