The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list; and the right we possess to the forbearance or assistance of other men. The first of these a just philosophy will probably induce us universally to explode.

The wise man is satisfied with nothing.

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

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

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

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.

What indeed is life, unless so far as it is enjoyed? It does not merit the name.