The prosperity of a people is proportionate to the number of hands and minds usefully employed. To the community, sedition is a fever, corruption is a gangrene, and idleness is an atrophy. Whatever body or society wastes more than it acquires, must gradually decay, and every being that continues to be fed, and eases to labor, takes away something from the public stock.

A man who always talks for fame never can be pleasing. The man who talks to unburthen his mind is the man to delight you.

Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.

All argument is against it; but all belief is for it.

Riches, perhaps, do not so often produce crimes as incite accusers.

It is to be steadily inculcated, that virtue is the highest proof of understanding, and the only solid basis of greatness.

All power of fancy over reason is a degree of madness.