There's no nation under the sun can beat the English for ill-politeness: for my part, I hate the very sight of them; and so I shall only just visit a person of quality or two of my particular acquaintance, and then I shall go back again to France.

Tis best to build no castles in the air.

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

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

. . . men seldom risk their lives where an escape is without hope of recompense.

While all the pomp and circumstance of war animated others, it only saddened me; and all of past reflection, all of future dread, made the whole grandeur of the martial scene, and all the delusive seduction of martial music, fill my eyes frequently with tears.

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