“Light, whether it be material or moral, is the best reformer.”

He that is good will infallibly become better, and he that is bad will as certainly become worse; for vice, virtue, and time are three things that never stand still.

It is better to meet danger than to wait for it.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.

Words indeed are but the signs and counters of knowledge, and their currency should be strictly regulated by the capital which they represent.

A coxcomb begins by determining that his own profession is the first; and he finishes by deciding that he is the first of profession.

Revenge is fever in our own blood, to be cured only by letting the blood of another; but the remedy too often produces a relapse, which is remorse–a malady far more dreadful than the first disease, because it is incurable.

Attempts at reform, when they fail, strengthen despotism, as he that struggles tightens those cords he does not succeed in breaking.

Men of great and shining qualities do not always succeed in life, but the fault lies more often in themselves than in others.

There is nothing more imprudent than excessive prudence.

Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom.

God will excuse our prayers for ourselves whenever we are prevented from them by being occupied in such good works as to entitle us to the prayers of others.

There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly, that utility is the test of their value.

Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm.

Grant graciously what you cannot refuse safely and conciliate those you cannot conquer.

It is the briefest yet wisest maxim which tells us to meddle not.

For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success.

I’ve always thought the best way to teach a kid not to be scared of the dark is to fill his daylight hours with as much horror as possible.

Greatly talented performers don’t know – often spectacularly – what’s best for them, don’t know what their talents really are, and don’t know what’s just plain wrong for them.

The best thing I’ve done with my money is buy a house for my family. You wake up to a house you love and you feel like somebody.

I wrote ‘Oath’ for Cher Lloyd because there were really no best-friend anthems out there. Not only did she love it, she wanted me to rap on it, too!

Dear curiosity, I wish you wished the best for me.

Don’t aim to be the best, aim to do the best.

Sometimes the best you could do is say NO.

Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments.