Logicians may reason about abstractions. But the great mass of men must have images. The strong tendency of the multitude in all ages and nations to idolatry can be explained on no other principle.

No man who is correctly informed as to the past will be disposed to take a morose or desponding view of the present.

Office of itself does much to equalize politicians. It by no means brings all characters to a level; but it does bring high characters down and low characters up towards a common standard.

History distinguishes what is accidental and transitory in human nature from what is essential and immutable.

Nothing is so galling to a people not broken in from birth as a paternal, or, in other words, a meddling government, a government which tells them what to read, and say, and eat, and drink and wear.

Finesse is the best adaptation of means to circumstances.

Generalization is necessary to the advancement of knowledge; but particularity is indispensable to the creations of the imagination.