There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually witness.

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

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

No man must encroach upon my province, nor I upon his. He may advise me, moderately and without pertinaciousness, but he must not expect to dictate to me. He may censure me freely and without reserve; but he should remember that I am to act by my deliberation and not his. I ought to exercise my talents for the benefit of others; but that exercise must be the fruit of my own conviction; no man must attempt to press me into the service.

Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed by his neighbours. This right flows from the very nature of man.

Of Belief Human mathematics, so to speak, like the length of life, are subject to the doctrine of chances.

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