There's scarce a point whereon mankind agree - So well as in their boast of killing me; I boast of nothing, but when I've a mind - I think I can be even with mankind

Fools admire everything in an author of reputation.

We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation.

Changing a habit is hard work. But it's harder to find work that would be more fulfilling

So it is the human condition that to wish for the greatness of one's fatherland is to wish evil to one's neighbors. The citizen of the universe would be the man who wishes his country never to be either greater or smaller, richer or poorer.

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

The institution of religion exists only to keep mankind in order, and to make men merit the goodness of God by their virtue. Everything in a religion which does not tend towards this goal must be considered foreign or dangerous.