There are persons of that general philanthropy and easy tempers, which the world in contempt generally calls good-natured, who seem to be sent into the world with the same design with which men put little fish into a pike pond, in order only to be devoured by that voracious water-hero.

Heroes, notwithstanding the high ideas which, by the means of flatterers, they may entertain of themselves, or the world may conceive of them, have certainly more of mortal than divine about them.

The woman and the soldier who do not defend the first pass will never defend the last.

The raillery which is consistent with good-breeding is a gentle animadversion of some foible, which, while it raises the laugh in the rest of the company, doth not put the person rallied out of countenance, or expose him to shame or contempt. On the contrary, the jest should be so delicate that the object of it should be capable of joining in the mirth it occasions.

There is perhaps no surer mark of folly, than to attempt to correct natural infirmities of those we love.

To the generality of men you cannot give a stronger hint for them to impose upon you than by imposing upon yourself.

Dignity and love were never yet boon companions.