A modest man is steady, an humble man timid, and a vain one presumptuous.

Life cannot be seen by an unmoved spectator.

Men with common minds seldom break through general rules. Prudence is ever the resort of weakness; and they rarely go as far as as they may in any undertaking, who are determined not to go beyond it on any account.

The two sexes mutually corrupt and improve each other.

How can a rational being be ennobled by any thing that is not obtained by its own exertions?

I think I love most people best when they are in adversity; for pity is one of my prevailing passions.

Executions, far from being useful examples to the survivors, have, I am persuaded, a quite contrary effect, by hardening the heart they ought to terrify. Besides, the fear of an ignominious death, I believe, never deterred anyone from the commission of a crime, because in committing it the mind is roused to activity about present circumstances.