Quotes

Now the things within our power are by nature free, unrestricted, unhindered; but those beyond our power are weak, dependent, restricted, alien.

I have good dispositions; my life has been hitherto harmless and in some degree beneficial; but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster.

It is vain to expect virtue from women till they are, in some degree, independent of men; nay, it is vain to expect that strength of natural affection, which would make them good wives and good mothers.

The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul.

The next, that all these things, which now thou seest, shall within a very little while be changed, and be no more: and ever call to mind, how many changes and alterations in the world thou thyself hast already been an eyewitness of in thy time.

The will of nature may be learned from things upon which we are all agreed.

The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind.

All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes.

Nothing is more painful to the human mind than, after the feelings have been worked up by a quick succession of events, the dead calmness of inaction and certainty which follows and deprives the soul both of hope and fear.

There is something in what you say, my good friend, and what do we meet for but to speak our minds—freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, liberty—that kind of thing?

Herein doth consist happiness of life, for a man to know thoroughly the true nature of everything; what is the matter, and what is the form of it: with all his heart and soul, ever to do that which is just, and to speak the truth.

A man’s master is he who is able to confer or remove whatever that man seeks or shuns.

To those who are good (to me), I am good; and to those who are not good (to me), I am also good;--and thus (all) get to be good.

To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

So quick bright things come to confusion.

If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended,

Lord, what fools these mortals be!