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.

Our judgment will always suspect those weapons that can be used with equal prospect of success on both sides.

The subtleties of mathematics defecate the grossness of our apprehension, and supply the elements of a sounder and severer logic.

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.

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.

He that revels in a well-chosen library, has innumerable dishes, and all of admirable flavour.

Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.