I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling

Can any thing, my good Sir, be more painful to a friendly mind than a necessity of communicating disagreeable intelligence? Indeed, it is sometimes difficult to determine, whether the relater or the receiver of evil tidings is most to be pitied.

Generosity without delicacy, like wit without judgment, generally gives as much pain as pleasure.

Nothing is so delicate as the reputation of a woman; it is at once the most beautiful and most brittle of all human things.

For my part, I confess I seldom listen to the players: one has so much to do, in looking about and finding out one's acquaintance, that, really, one has no time to mind the stage. One merely comes to meet one's friends, and show that one's alive.

Credulity is the sister of innocence.

falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.