People of our time are so formed for agitation and ostentation that goodness, moderation, equability, constancy, and such quiet and obscure qualities are no longer felt.

Behold the hands, how they promise, conjure, appeal, menace, pray, supplicate, refuse, beckon, interrogate, admire, confess, cringe, instruct, command, mock and what not besides, with a variation and multiplication of variation which makes the tongue envious.

I had rather fashion my mind than furnish it.

The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.

Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.

The greater part of the world's troubles are due to questions of grammar.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them if they will not apply themselves to me.