You have sensible women here [in England] but then, they are very devils--censorious, uncharitable, sarcastic--the women in Scotland have twice--thrice their freedom, with all their virtue--and are very conversable and agreeable--their educations are more finished.

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

to diminish expectation is to increase enjoyment.

Money is the source of the greatest vice, and that nation which is most rich, is most wicked.

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.

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

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