What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.

We have never stopped sin by passing laws; and in the same way, we are not going to take a great moral ideal and achieve it merely by law.

Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature. Alas! is it rendered impossible by its vices?

No one accuses without an underlying notion of punishment and revenge, even when he accuses his fate or himself. All complaint is accusation, all self-congratulation is praise.

It's generally human nature to overestimate risk and underestimate opportunity.

People have a voracious appetite for a better way, and yesterday's 'wow' quickly becomes today's 'ordinary'.