When habit has strengthened our sense of duties, they leave us no time for other things; but when young we neglect them and this gives us time for anything.

On the subject of the history of the American Revolution, you ask who shall write it? Who can write it? And who will ever be able to write it? Nobody, except merely its external facts... all its councils, designs and discussions having been conducted by Congress [behind] closed doors - and no members, as far as I know, having even made notes of them. These, which are the life and soul of history, must forever be unknown.

If your letters are as long as the bible, they will appear short to me. Only let them be brim full of affection.

I am tired of a life of contention, and of being the personal object for the hatred of every man, who hates the present state of things.

I have given up newspapers in exchange for Tacitus and Thucydides, for Newton and Euclid; and I find myself much the happier.

Hemp is one of the greatest, most important substances of our nation

And where else will [Hume,] this degenerate son of science, this traitor to his fellow men, find the origin of just powers, if not in the majority of the society? Will it be in the minority? Or in an individual of that minority?