Private life, which is the nursery of the commonwealth is yet, in general, pure, and on the whole disposed to virtue; and the people at large want neither generosity nor spirit— State of the Nation(I. 356).
What we want is to establish more fully an opinion of uniformity, and consistency of character, in the leading men of the state, such as will restore some confidence to profession and appearance, such as will fix subordination upon esteem.— State of the Nation (I, 357).
Nothing indeed but the possession of some power can with any certainty discover what at the bottom is the true character of any man.— Regicide Peace (VI. 193).
But the use of character is to be a shield against calumny— Bristol, 1780 (III. 2).
Good company, lively conversations, and the endearments of friendship, fill the mind with great pleasure; a temporary solitude, on the other hand, is itself agreeable. This may perhaps prove that we are creatures designed for contemplation as well as action; since solitude as well as society has its pleasures; as from the former observation we may discern that an entire life of solitude contradicts the purposes of our being, since death itself is scarcely an idea of more terror—Sublime and Beautiful (I. 95).