One of the prerogatives by which man is eminently distinguished from all other living beings inhabiting this globe of earth, consists in the gift of reason.

Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility.

Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.

Books are the depositary of everything that is most honourable to man.

Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.

We are so curiously made that one atom put in the wrong place in our original structure will often make us unhappy for life.

In a well-written book we are presented with the maturest reflections, or the happiest flights of a mind of uncommon excellence. It is impossible that we can be much accustomed to such companions without attaining some resemblance to them.