"To believe in God is to believe in a being of infinite power, infinite wisdom, and infinite goodness."

"The value, or worth of a man, is as of all other things, his price; that is to say, so much as would be given for the use of his power: and therefore is not absolute; but a thing dependant on the need…"

"For such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves."

"Fear of power invisible, feigned by the mind, or imagined from tales publicly allowed, is religion; not allowed, superstition."

"For the nature of man is such, that he is always desirous of new things, and of change; and therefore, if there be no common power to keep him in awe, he will be continually in a state of war."