To Remind A Man Of The Good

It Is Not Possible To Found A Lasting Power Upon Injustice, Perjury, And Treachery.

A Man Is His Own Easiest Dupe, For What He Wishes To Be True He Generally Believes To Be True.

It Is The Natural Disposition Of All Men To Listen With Pleasure To Abuse And Slander Of Their Neighbour, And To Hear With Impatience Those Who Utter Praises Of Themselves.

Nothing Is So Easy As To Deceive One's Self; For What We Wish, That We Readily Believe; But Such Expectations Are Often Inconsistent With The Real State Of Things.

It Is Not Possible To Found A Lasting Power Upon Injustice, Perjury, And Treachery. These May, Perhaps, Succeed For Once, And Borrow For Awhile, From Hope, A Gay And Flourishing Appearance. But Time Betrays Their Weakness, And They Fall Into Ruin Of Themselves. For, As In Structures Of Every Kind, The Lower Parts Should Have The Greatest Firmness--so The Grounds And Principles Of Actions Should Be Just And True.