To a heart formed for friendship and affection the charms of solitude are very short-lived.

Travelling is the ruin of all happiness. There's no looking at a building here after seeing Italy.

How little has situation to do with happiness.

We continually say things to support an opinion, which we have given, that in reality we don't above half mean.

I have this very moment finished reading a novel called The Vicar of Wakefield [by Oliver Goldsmith].... It appears to me, to be impossible any person could read this book through with a dry eye and yet, I don't much like it.... There is but very little story, the plot is thin, the incidents very rare, the sentiments uncommon, the vicar is contented, humble, pious, virtuous--but upon the whole the book has not at all satisfied my expectations.

The Spring is generally fertile in new acquaintances.

don't be angry with the gentleman for thinking, whatever be the cause, for I assure you he makes no common practice of offending in that way.