One open way of speaking introduces another open way of speaking, and draws out discoveries, like wine and love.

If faces were not alike, we could not distinguish men from beasts; if they were not different, we could not tell one man from another.

I am further of opinion that it would be better for us to have [no laws] at all than to have them in so prodigious numbers as we have.

The share we have in the knowledge of truth, such as it is, has not been acquired by our own powers. God has taught ushis wonderful secrets; our faith is not of our acquiring, it is purely the gift of another's bounty.

The same reason that makes us chide and brawl and fall out with any of our neighbors, causeth a war to follow between Princes.

A wellborn mind that is practiced in dealing with people makes itself thoroughly agreeable by itself. Art is nothing else but thelist and record of the productions of such minds.

We have no participation in Being, because all human nature is ever midway between being born and dying, giving off only a vague image and shadow of itself, and a weak and uncertain opinion. And if you chance to fix your thoughts on trying to grasp its essence, it would be neither more nor less than if your tried to clutch water.