A Scotchman must be a very sturdy moralist who does not love Scotland better than truth.

That eminence of learning is not to be gained without labour, at least equal to that which any other kind of greatness can require, will be allowed by those who wish to elevate the character of a scholar; since they cannot but know that every human acquisition is valuable in proportion to the difficulty of its attainment.

It is the just doom of laziness and gluttony to be inactive without ease and drowsy without tranquility.

A country is in a bad state, which is governed only by laws; because a thousand things occur for which laws cannot provide, and where authority ought to interpose.

A successful author is equally in danger of the diminution of his fame, whether he continues or ceases to write.

Human reason borrowed many arts from the instinct of animals.

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.