Credit means that a certain confidence is given, and a certain trust reposed. Is that trust justified? And is that confidence wise? These are the cardinal questions. To put it more simply credit is a set of promises to pay; will those promises be kept?

It is often said that men are ruled by their imaginations; but it would be truer to say they are governed by the weakness of their imaginations.

Business is really more agreeable than pleasure; it interests the whole mind, the aggregate nature of man more continuously, and more deeply. But it does not look as if it did.

The reason why so few good books are written is that so few people who can write know anything.

The best reason why Monarchy is a strong government is, that it is an intelligible government. The mass of mankind understand it, and they hardly anywhere in the world understand any other.

Stupidity is nature's favorite resource for preserving consistency of opinion.

Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind.