Old friends are the great blessings of one's later years. Half a word conveys one's meaning. They have a memory of the same events, have the same mode of thinking. I have young relations that may grow upon me, for my nature is affectionate, but can they grow To Be old friends?

In the drawing room [of the Queen's palace] hung a Venus and Cupid by Michaelangelo, in which, instead of a bit of drapery, the painter has placed Cupid's foot between Venus's thighs. Queen Caroline asked General Guise, an old connoisseur, if it was not a very fine piece? He replied "Madam, the painter was a fool, for he has placed the foot where the hand should be.

[The] taste [of the French] is too timid to be true taste--or is but half taste.

It is difficult to divest one's self of vanity; because impossible to divest one's self of self-love.

Oh, we are ridiculous animals; and if the angels have any fun in them, how we must divert them!

That strange premature genius Chatterton has couched in one line the quintessence of what Voltaire has said in many pages: "Reason, a thorn in Revelation's side.

I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.