The advantages found in history seem to be of three kinds, as they result either from the mere situation of the climate and country or from the form of government and of the character of the people, or from those finer principles and morals, which may be called the recommendations of philosophy.
"There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations."