The whole history of these books (i.e. the Gospels) is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry into it: and such tricks have been played with their text, and with the texts of other books relating to them, that we have a right, from that cause, to entertain much doubt what parts of them are genuine. In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds. It is as easy to separate those parts, as to pick out diamonds from dunghills.

Trial by jury is part of that bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.

Health, learning and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem and public honour.

I do most anxiously wish to see the highest degrees of education given to the higher degrees of genius and to all degrees of it, so much as may enable them to read and understand what is going on in the world and to keep their part of it going on right; for nothing can keep it right but their own vigilant and distrustful superintendence.

Music furnishes a delightful recreation for the hours of respite from the cares of the day, and lasts us through life.

Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.

It should be our endeavor to cultivate the peace and friendship of every nation, even of that which has injured us most.