Water and oil, simply considered, are capable of giving some pleasure to the taste. Water, when simple, is insipid, inodorous, colorless, and smooth; it is found, when not cold, to be a great resolver of spasms, and lubricator of the fibres; this power it probably owes to its smoothness.

Men are as much blinded by the extremes of misery as by the extremes of prosperity.

The arrogance of age must submit to be taught by youth.

No sound ought to be heard in the church but the healing voice of Christian charity.

The only kind of sublimity which a painter or sculptor should aim at is to express by certain proportions and positions of limbs and features that strength and dignity of mind, and vigor and activity of body, which enables men to conceive and execute great actions.

Dogs are indeed the most social, affectionate, and amiable animals of the whole brute creation.

Tyrants seldom want pretexts.