Money is the fruit of evil, as often as the root of it.

A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.

Conscience is a judge in every man's breast, which none can cheat or corrupt, and perhaps the only incorrupt thing about him; yet, inflexible and honest as this judge is (however polluted the bench on which he sits), no man can, in my opinion, enjoy any applause which is not there adjudged to be his due.

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

Great vices are the proper objects of our detestation, smaller faults of our pity, but affectation appears to be the only true source of the ridiculous.

Human life very much resembles a game of chess: for, as in the latter, while a gamester is too attentive to secure himself very strongly on one side of the board, he is apt to leave an unguarded opening on the other, so doth it often happen in life.

It is not from nature, but from education and habits, that our wants are chiefly derived.