'Tis certain that a serious attention to the sciences and liberal arts softens and humanizes the temper, and cherishes those fine emotions in which true virtue and honor consist. It rarely, very rarely happens that a man of taste and learning is not, at least, an honest man, whatever frailties may attend him.

While we are reasoning concerning life, life is gone.

For the purposes of life and conduct, and society, a little good sense is surely better than all this genius, and a little good humour than this extreme sensibility.

Nothing is so improving to the temper as the study of the beauties either of poetry, eloquence, music, or painting.

No man ever threw away life while it was worth keeping.

It is a certain rule that wit and passion are entirely incompatible. When the affections are moved, there is no place for the imagination.

Avarice, or the desire of gain, is a universal passion which operates at all times, at all places, and upon all persons.