The cure for false theology is motherwit. Forget your books and traditions, and obey your moral perceptions at this hour.

With each divine impulse the mind rends the thin rinds of the visible and finite, and comes out into eternity, and inspires and expires its air. It converses with truths that have always been spoken in the world, and becomes conscious of a closer sympathy with Zeno and Arrian, than with persons in the house.

Chiefly the sea-shore has been the point of departure to knowledge, as to commerce. The most advanced nations are always those who navigate the most.

The gentleman is a man of truth, lord of his own actions, and expressing that lordship in his behavior, not in any manner dependent and servile either on persons, or opinions, or possessions.

The best effort of a fine person is felt after we have left their presence.

Heaven sometimes hedges a rare character about with ungainliness and odium, as the burr that protects the fruit.

Moderation in all things, especially moderation.