If goodness were only a theory, it were a pity it should be lost to the world. There are a number of things, the idea of which is a clear gain to the mind. Let people, for instance, rail at friendship, genius, freedom, as long as they will -the very names of these despised qualities are better than anything else that could be substituted for them, and embalm even the most envenomed satire against them.
If goodness were only a ...
Quotes from the same author
Just as much as we see in others, we have in ourselves.
A proud man is satisfied with his own good opinion, and does not seek to make converts to it.
The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves.
Men are in numberless instances qualified for certain things, for no other reason than because they are qualified for nothing else.
As is our confidence, so is our capacity.