No estimate is more in danger of erroneous calculations than those by which a man computes the force of his own genius.

Faction seldom leaves a man honest, however it might find him.

The hour of reformation is always delayed; every delay gives vice another opportunity of fortifying itself by habit.

Vanity is so frequently the apparent motive of advice, that we, for the most part, summon our powers to oppose it without any very accurate inquiry whether it is right.

It seems not more reasonable to leave the right of printing unrestrained, because writers may be afterwards censured, than it would be to sleep with doors unbolted, because by our laws we can hang a thief.

Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion.

Surely, it is much easier to respect a man who has always had respect, than to respect a man who we know was last year no better than ourselves, and will be no better next year.