Art is the filigrain of a little mind, and is twisted and involved and curled, but would reach farther if laid out in a straight line.

I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.

The curse of modern times is, that almost everything does create controversy.

How posterity will laugh at us, one way or other! If half a dozen break their necks, and balloonism is exploded, we shall be called fools for having imagined it could be brought to use: if it should be turned to account, we shall be ridiculed for having doubted.

Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

I have known men of valor cowards to their wives.

A man of sense, though born without wit, often lives to have wit. His memory treasures up ideas and reflections; he compares themwith new occurrences, and strikes out new lights from the collision. The consequence is sometimes bons mots, and sometimes apothegms.