I find so many things to fear and so few to hope.

I do not know that ever I desired anything earnestly in my life but 'twas denied me, and I am many times afraid to wish a thing merely lest my fortune should take that occasion to use me ill.

Tis an admirable thing to see how some people will labour to find out terms that may obscure a plain sense, like a gentleman I knew, who would never say 'the weather grew cold,' but that 'winter begins to salute us.' I have no patience for such coxcombs.

Will the kindness of this letter excuse the shortness of it?

All letters, methinks, should be free and easy as one's discourse, not studied, as an oration, nor made up of hard words like a charm.

But 'tis a sad thing that all one's happiness is only that the world does not know you are miserable.

To marry for love were no reproachful thing if we did not see that of ten thousand couples that do it, hardly one can be brought for an example that it may be done and not repented afterwards.