Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple reason; they made no such demand upon those who wrote them.

Those that are the loudest in their threats are the weakest in their actions.

If we steal thoughts from the moderns, it will be cried down as plagiarism; if from the ancients, it will be cried up as erudition.

The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our life. But it is to be lamented that the most contemptible whisper may deprive us of the one, and the weakest weapon of the other.

Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.

There are three modes of bearing the ills of life, by indifference, by philosophy, and by religion.

Death is the liberator of him whom freedom cannot release, the physician of him whom medicine cannot cure, and the comforter of him whom time cannot console.

The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are sure to be paid with compound interest in the end.

Bigotry murders religion to frighten fools with her ghost.