Though the wisdom or virtue of one can very rarely make many happy, the folly or vice of one man often make many miserable.

The law is the last result of human wisdom acting upon human experience for the benefit of the public.

He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.

That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own esteem.

Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning.

The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.

A lawyer has no business with the justice or injustice of the cause which he undertakes, unless his client asks his opinion, and then he is bound to give it honestly. The justice or injustice of the cause is to be decided by the judge.