How readily the predominant passion snatches an interval of liberty, and how fast it expands itself when the weight of restraint is taken away.

The prejudices of mankind favor him who under-rates his own powers. He is no man’s rival, and therefore, may be every man’s friend.

It has long been charged by one part of mankind upon the other, that they will not take advice.

Men willingly believe what they wish to be true.

Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes with cold indifference.

Virtue is uncommon in all the classes of humanity; and I suppose it will scarcely be imagined more frequent in a prison than in other places.

Obscurity and clearness are relative terms: to some readers scarce any book is easy, to others not many are difficult.

In consequence of my engagements, I address you once more from the habitations of misery.

The character of a liar is at once so hateful and contemptible, that even of those who have lost their virtue it might be expected that from the violation of truth they should be restrained by their pride.

Among the fallacies which only experience can detect, there are some, of which scarcely experience itself can destroy the influence.