The first step, my son, which one makes in the world, is the one on which depends the rest of our days.

Every abuse ought to be reformed, unless the reform is more dangerous than the abuse itself.

Historians are gossips who tease the dead

He who thinks himself wise, O heavens! is a great fool.

Whatever you do, trample down abuses, and love those who love you. Different translation: Whatever you do, crush the infamous thing superstition, and love those who love you.

Let us work without theorizing, tis the only way to make life endurable.

In this country [England] it is good to kill an admiral from time to time, to encourage the others. The reference is to Admiral John Byng, who was executed in 1757 for failing to prevent the French from taking Minorca.