Others, again, give us the mere carcass of another man’s thoughts, but deprived of all their life and spirit, and this is to add murder to robbery. I have somewhere seen it observed, that we should make the same use of a book, as a bee does of a flower; she steals sweets from it, but does not injure it; and those sweets she herself improves and concocts into honey. But most plagiarists, like the drone, have neither taste to select, nor industry to acquire, nor skill to improve, but impudently pilfer the honey ready prepared from the hive.

Vanity finds in self-love so powerful an ally that it storms, as it were, by a coup de main,, the citadel of our heads, where, having blinded the two watchmen, it readily descends into the heart.

In all places, and in all times, those religionists who have believed too much have been more inclined to violence and persecution than those who have believed too little.

The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health.

A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them.

Sloth, if it has prevented many crimes, has also smothered many virtues.

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