The best sun we have is made of Newcastle coal, and I am determined never to reckon upon any other.

History is a romance that is believed; romance, a history that is not believed.

I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel - a solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.

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.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

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.

Our [British] summers are often, though beautiful for verdure, so cold, that they are rather cold winters.