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.

A lottery is a taxation on all of the fools in creation.

And here, I believe, the wit is generally misunderstood. In reality, it lies in desiring another to kiss your a-- for having just before threatened to kick his; for I have observed very accurately, that no one ever desires you to kick that which belongs to himself, nor offers to kiss this part in another.

Nothing can be so quick and sudden as the operations of the mind, especially when hope, or fear, or jealousy, to which the other two are but journeymen, set it to work.

Considering the unforeseen events of this world, we should be taught that no human condition should inspire men with absolute despair.

Can any man have a higher notion of the rule of right and the eternal fitness of things?

The slander of some people is as great a recommendation as the praise of others.