Courtesy, like grace and beauty, that which begets liking and inclination to love one another at the first sight, and in the very beginning of our acquaintance and familiarity; and, consequently, that which first opens the door for us to better ourselves by the example of others, if there be anything in the society worth notice

There is a certain consideration, and a general duty of humanity, that binds us not only to the animals, which have life and feeling, but even to the trees and plants. We owe justice to people, and kindness and benevolence to all other creatures who may be susceptible of it. There is some intercourse between them and us, and some mutual obligation.

It is an absolute perfection and virtually divine to know how to enjoy our being rightfully.

Oh these foolish men! They could not create so much as a worm, but they create gods by the dozens.

There is perhaps no more obvious vanity than to write of it so vainly.

The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from Custom.

For me, who only desire to become wise, not more learned or eloquent, these logical or Aristotelian dispositions of parts are of no use.