The frivolous work of polished idleness.

- James Mackintosh

Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations.

- James Mackintosh

Praise is the symbol which represents sympathy, and which the mind insensibly substitutes for its recollection and language.

- James Mackintosh

A vice utterly at variance with the happiness of him who harbors it, and, as such, condemned by self-love.

- James Mackintosh

Whatever is popular deserves attention.

- James Mackintosh

The Commons, faithful to their system, remained in a wise and masterly inactivity.

- James Mackintosh

Diffused knowledge immortalizes itself.

- James Mackintosh

Every fiction since Homer has taught friendship, patriotism, generosity, contempt of death. These are the highest virtues; and the fictions which tau…

- James Mackintosh

Those who differ most from the opinions of their fellow men are the most confident of the truth of their own.

- James Mackintosh