Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.

The synonyme of usury is ruin.

Misery is caused for the most part, not by a heavy crush of disaster, but by the corrosion of less visible evils, which canker enjoyment, and undermine security. The visit of an invader is necessarily rare, but domestic animosities allow no cessation.

Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal.

He who is extravagant will quickly become poor; and poverty will enforce dependence, and invite corruption.

There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be enamoured; it meets them, however often they occur, with the same ardour which a lover feels at the sight of his mistress, and parts from them with the same regret when they can no longer be enjoyed.

If useless thoughts could be expelled from the mind, all the valuable parts of our knowledge would more frequently recur.