No man ever yet became great by imitation.

We love to expect, and when expectation is either disappointed or gratified, we want to be again expecting.

Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off.

Combinations of wickedness would overwhelm the world, by the advantage which licentious principles afford, did not those who have long practised perfidy grow faithless to each other.

Treating your adversary with respect is giving him an advantage to which he is not entitled.

He that teaches us anything which we knew not before is undoubtedly to be reverenced as a master.

Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. He that labors in any great or laudable undertaking has his fatigues first supported by hope and afterward rewarded by joy.

I do not much wish well to discoveries, for I am always afraid they will end in conquest and robbery.

No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize him and thus force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.

The happiest part of a man’s life is that which he passes lying awake in bed in the morning.