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

Lord Bath used to say of women, who are apt to say that they will follow their own judgment, that they could not follow a worse guide.

Let the French but have England, and they won't want to conquer it.

Our bells are worn threadbare with ringing for victories

I firmly believe, notwithstanding all our complaints, that almost every person upon earth tastes upon the totality more happiness than misery.

I shun authors, and would never have been one myself, if it obliged me to keep such bad company.

An ancient prophecy ... pronounced, That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it!