If reason is a universal faculty, the decision of the common mind is the nearest criterion of truth.

The prejudices of ignorance are more easily removed than the prejudices of interest; the first are blindly adopted; the second wilfully preferred.

It [Calvinism] established a religion without a prelate, a government without a king.

By common consent, gray hairs are a crown of glory: the only object of respect that can never excite envy.

Sedition is bred in the lap of luxury and its chosen emissaries are the beggared spendthrift and the impoverished libertine.

Where the people possess no authority, their rights obtain no respect.

Beauty is but the sensible image of the infinite. Like truth and justice, it lives within us; like virtue and the moral law, it is a companion of the soul.

If hours did not hang heavy, what would become of scandal?

In 1688 England contracted to the Netherlands the highest debt that one nation can owe to another. Herself not knowing how to recover her liberties, they were restored by men of the United Provinces.

The measure of progress of civilization is the progress of the people.

Avarice is the vice of declining years.

Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.

And when our baby stirs and struggles to be born it compels humility: what we began is now its own.

The perfect shorts are always important.

Teach me, my God and king In all things thee to see And what I do in anything To do it as for thee

There is no record in the history of a nation that ever gained anything valuable by being unable to defend itself.

Obviously I wanted to be a bus driver - and I still do. If only I could get a part time job.

Psychological knowledge has made us dull.

Documentarian Laura Poitras has crafted a first-rate Hitchcockian-type thriller telling the story of Edward Snowden.

My first film was with Cuba Gooding Jr, 'The Fighting Temptations,' and I had a little part here and there on little shows as guest stars. And I've taken acting classes.

Are we all clear that we want to build something that can aspire to be a world power - not just a trading bloc, but a political entity?