It is astonishing how much more people are interested in lengthening life than improving it.

Where we cannot invent, we may at least improve; we may give somewhat of novelty to that which was old, condensation to that which was diffuse, perspicuity to that which was obscure, and currency to that which was recondite.

If you are under obligations to many, it is prudent to postpone the recompensing of one, until it be in your power to remunerate all; otherwise you will make more enemies by what you give, than by what you withhold.

We own almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed but to those who have differed.

We shall at all times chance upon men of recondite acquirements, but whose qualifications, from the incommunicative and inactive habits of their owners, are as utterly useless to others as though the possessors had them not.

No two things differ more than hurry and despatch. Hurry is the mark of a weak mind; despatch of a strong one.

Genius in one grand particular is like life. We know nothing of either but by their effects.