Nobody ought to be too old to improve: I should be sorry if I was; and I flatter myself I have already improved considerably by my travels. First, I can swallow gruel soup, egg soup, and all manner of soups, without making faces much. Secondly, I can pretty well live without tea.

Time deals gently with me; and though I feel that I descend, the slope is easy.

You speak of beginning the education of your son. The moment he was able to form an idea his education was already begun. . . .

We neither laugh alone, nor weep alone, why then should we pray alone?

Young gentlemen, who are to display their knowledge to the world, should have every motive of emulation, should be formed into regular classes, should read and dispute together, should have all the honors, and, if one may say so, the pomp of learning set before them, to call up their ardor. It is their business, and they should apply to it as such.

Child of mortality, whence comest thou? Why is thy countenance sad, and why are thine eyes red with weeping?

It would be difficult to determine whether the age is growing better or worse; for I think our plays are growing like sermons, and our sermons like plays.