Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree. We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.

I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government rather than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual.

All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.

Christianity is the highest perfection of humanity.

The commodiousness of money is indeed great; but there are some advantages which money cannot buy, and which therefore no wise man will by the love of money be tempted to forego.

There must always be some advantage on one side or the other, and it is better that advantage should be had by talents than by chance.

Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favor.