Hereditary wealth is in reality a premium paid to idleness.

The great model of the affection of love in human beings is the sentiment which subsists between parents and children.

If there be such a thing as truth, it must infallibly be struck out by the collision of mind with mind.

By right, as the word is employed in this subject, has always been understood discretion, that is, a full and complete power of either doing a thing or omitting it, without the person's becoming liable to animadversion or censure from another, that is, in other words, without his incurring any degree of turpitude or guilt. Now in this sense I affirm that man has no rights, no discretionary power whatever.

If he who employs coercion against me could mould me to his purposes by argument, no doubt he would. He pretends to punish me because his argument is strong; but he really punishes me because his argument is weak.

The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.

The first duty of man is to take none of the principles of conduct upon trust; to do nothing without a clear and individual conviction that it is right to be done.