I have learned to be less confident in the conclusions of human reason, and give more credit to the honesty of contrary opinions.

He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world's believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions.

Perseverance in object, though not by the most direct way, is often more laudable than perpetual changes, as often as the object shifts light.

The present generation has the same right of self-government which the past one has exercised for itself.

Never throw off the best affections of nature in the moment when they become most precious to their object; nor fear to extend you hand to save another, lest you should sink yourself.

The constitutional freedom of religion is the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights

If the Wise be the happy man... he must be virtuous too; for, without virtue, happiness cannot be. This then is the true scope of all academical emulation.