Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.

Few things are more agreeable to self-love than revenge, and yet no cause so effectually restrains us from revenge as self-love. And this paradox naturally suggests another; that the strength of the community is not unfrequently built upon the weakness of those individuals that compose it.

Those who have finished by making all others think with them, have usually been those who began by daring to think with themselves.

The avarice of the miser may be termed the grand sepulchral of all his other passions, as they successively decay.

Sometimes the greatest adversities turn out to be the greatest blessings.

Shakespeare, Butler and Bacon have rendered it extremely difficult for all who come after them to be sublime, witty or profound.

He that places himself neither higher nor lower than he ought to do exercises the truest humility.