To follow imperfect, uncertain, or corrupted traditions, in order to avoid erring in our own judgment, is but to exchange one danger for another.

Of metaphors, those generally conduce most to energy or vivacity of style which illustrate an intellectual by a sensible object.

Great affectation and great absence of it are at first sight very similar.

A man is called selfish not for pursuing his own good, but for neglecting his neighbor's.

Some men's reputation seems like seed-wheat, which thrives best when brought from a distance.

In our judgment of human transactions, the law of optics is reversed, we see most dimly the objects which are close around us.

The love of admiration leads to fraud, much more than the love of commendation; but, on the other hand, the latter is much more likely to spoil our: good actions by the substitution of an inferior motive.