Friendship may sometimes step a few paces in advance of truth.

The assailant is often in the right; that the assailed is always.

There is a gravity which is not austere nor captious, which belongs not to melancholy nor dwells in contraction of heart: but arises from tenderness and hangs upon reflection.

Ridicule has followed the vestiges of truth, but never usurped her place.

The most pernicious of absurdities is that weak, blind, stupid faith is better than the constant practice of every human virtue.

Children are what the mothers are.

Many laws as certainly make men bad, as bad men make many laws.