This gave me occasion to observe, that when Men are employ'd they are best contented. For on the Days they work'd they were good-natur'd and chearful; and with the consciousness of having done a good Days work they spent the Evenings jollily; but on the idle Days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with their Pork, the Bread, and in continual ill-humour. (Autobiography, 1771)

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do.

We are not so sensible of the greatest Health as of the least Sickness.

A fat kitchin, a lean Will.

Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.