Profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that gradually involves her followers in dependence and debt; that is, fetters them with irons that enter into their souls.

To excite opposition and inflame malevolence is the unhappy privilege of courage made arrogant by consciousness of strength.

Words become low by the occasions to which they are applied, or the general character of them who use them; and the disgust which they produce arises from the revival of those images with which they are commonly united.

That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm, quiet interchange of sentiments...

As he that lives longest lives but a little while, every man may be certain that he has no time to waste. The duties of life are commensurate to its duration; and every day brings its task, which, if neglected, is doubled on the morrow.

Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth, and every other man has a right to knock him down for it. Martyrdom is the test.

Discord generally operates in little things; it is inflamed ... by contrariety of taste oftener than principles.