“Birth and ancestry, and that which we have not ourselves achieved, we can scarcely call our own”

“Capital must be propelled by self-interest; it cannot be enticed by benevolence”

“Property is the fruit of labor - property is desirable - it is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise”

“Contentment is the only real wealth”

“Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish”

“Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate”