Loquacity with tongue or pen is its own reward -- or, punishment.

Sir Joshua would have been glad to take her portrait; and he would have had an easier task than the historian at least in this, that he would not have had to represent the truth of change - only to give stability to one beautiful moment.

It is pleasant to have a kind word now and then when one is not near enough to have a kind glance or a hearty shake by the hand.

If the past is not to bind us, where can duty lie? We should have no law but the inclination of the moment.

He had the superficial kindness of a good-humored, self-satisfied nature, that fears no rivalry, and has encountered no contrarieties.

Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand.

We have all our secret sins; and if we knew ourselves we should not judge each other harshly.