I love and honour [Paulus Aemilius, in Plutarch's Lives], for his fondness for his children, which instead of blushing at, he avows and glories in: and that at an age, when almost all the heros and great men thought that to make their children and family a secondary concern, was the first proof of their superiority and greatness of soul.

Far from having taken any positive step, I have not yet even fommed any resolution.

Wealth per se I never too much valued, and my acquaintance with its possessors has by no means increased my veneration for it.

Never shall I recollect the occasion he gave me of displeasure, without feeling it renewed.

The laws of custom make our [returning a visit] necessary. O how I hate this vile custom which obliges us to make slaves of ourselves! to sell the most precious property we boast, our time;--and to sacrifice it to every prattling impertinent who chooses to demand it!

an old woman ... is a person who has no sense of decency; if once she takes to living, the devil himself can't get rid of her.

To save the mind from preying inwardly upon itself, it must be encouraged to some outward pursuit.