The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little.

God defend me from being an honest man according to the description which every day I see made by each man to his own glorification

Knowledge is an excellent drug; but no drug has virtue enough to preserve itself from corruption and decay, if the vessel be tainted and impure wherein it is put to keep.

Who is only good that others may know it, and that he may be the better esteemed when 'tis known, who will do well but upon condition that his virtue may be known to men, is one from whom much service is not to be expected.

Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our due, as she employs it favorably and well in artificially disguising and tricking out the ills of life to alleviate the sense of them.

Amongst all other vices there is none I hate more than cruelty, both by nature and judgment, as the extremest of all vices.

Friendship is the highest degree of perfection in society.