University of Virginia Library

56. ACTIONS, Virtuous.—

If no action is to be deemed virtuous for which malice can
imagine a sinister motive, then there never
was a virtuous action; no, not even in the
life of our Saviour Himself. But He has
taught us to judge the tree by its fruit, and
to leave motives to Him who can alone see
into them.—
To Martin Van Buren. Washington ed. vii, 363. Ford ed., x, 307
(M. 1824)