Men who have flattered themselves into this opinion of their own abilities, look down on all who waste their lives over books, as a race of inferior beings condemned by nature to perpetual pupilage, and fruitlessly endeavouring to remedy their barrenness by incessant cultivation, or succour their feebleness by subsidiary strength. They presume that none would be more industrious than they, if they were not more sensible of deficiences; and readily conclude, that he who places no confidence in his own powers owes his modesty only to his weakness.

Liberty is, to the lowest rank of every nation, little more than the choice of working or starving.

The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.

Pity is not natural to man. Children always are cruel. Savages are always cruel.

Courage is a quality so necessary for maintaining virtue, that it is always respected, even when it is associated with vice.

When speculation has done its worst, two and two still make four.

If, sir, men were all virtuous, I should with great alacrity teach them all to fly. But what would be the security of the good if the bad could at pleasure invade them from the sky? Against an army sailing through the clouds neither wall, nor mountains, nor seas could afford any security.