The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.
Natural ability without education has more often attained to glory and virtue than education without natural ability.
I add this, that rational ability without education has oftener raised man to glory and virtue, than education without natural ability.
Death is not natural for a state as it is for a human being, for whom death is not only necessary, but frequently even desirable.
Brevity is the best recommendation of speech, whether in a senator or an orator.