There is scarcely any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to flatter himself.

He that dies before sixty, of a cold or consumption, dies, in reality, by a violent death.

The constant desire of pleasing which is the peculiar quality of some, may be called the happiest of all desires in this that it rarely fails of attaining its end when not disgraced by affectation.

To the composition of novels and romances, nothing is necessary but paper, pens, and ink, with the manual capacity of using them.

As it is the nature of a kite to devour little birds, so it is the nature of some minds to insult and tyrannize over little people; this being the means which they use to recompense themselves for their extreme servility and condescension to their superiors; for nothing can be more reasonable than that slaves and flatterers should exact the same taxes on all below them which they themselves pay to all above them.

Sensuality not only debases both body and mind, but dulls the keen edge of pleasure.

Never trust the man who has reason to suspect that you know he hath injured you.