We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.

The passions seldom give good advice but to the interested and mercenary. Resentment generally suggests bad measures. Second thoughts and good nature will rarely, very rarely, approve the first hints of anger.

Every drop of ink in my pen ran cold.

Exercise is the worst thing in the world and as bad an invention as gunpowder.

A poet who makes use of a worse word instead of a better, because the former fits the rhyme or the measure, though it weakens the sense, is like a jeweller, who cuts a diamond into a brilliant, and diminishes the weight to make it shine more.

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

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.