Pleasure is a vain illusion; she draws you on to a thousand follies, errors, and I may say vices, and then… — Susanna Rowson

... my boys, with only moderate incomes, when placed in the church, at the bar, or in the field, may exert their talents, make themselves friends, and raise their fortunes on the basis of merit.

The very basis of true peace of mind is a benevolent wish to see all the world as happy as one's Self; and from my soul do I pity the selfish churl, who, remembering the little bickerings of anger, envy, and fifty other disagreeables to which frail mortality is subject, would wish to revenge the affront which pride whispers him he has received.

... while discretion points out the impropriety of my conduct, inclination urges me on to ruin.