The misfortune is, that religious learning is too often rather considered as an act of the memory than of the heart and affections; as a dry duty, rather than a lively pleasure.

we contrive to make revenge itself look like religion. We call down thunder on many a head under pretence, that those on whom we invoke it are God's enemies, when perhaps we invoke it because they are ours.

There are only two bad things in this world, sin and bile.

There is scarcely any fault in another which offends us more than vanity, though perhaps there is none that really injures us so little.

when these incorrigible talkers are compelled to be quiet, is it not evident that they are not silent because they are listening to what is said, but because they are thinking of what they themselves shall say when they can seize the first lucky interval, for which they are so narrowly watching?

If I wanted to punish an enemy, it should be by fastening on him the trouble of constantly hating somebody.

Those who want nothing are apt to forget how many there are who want every thing.