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

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

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

Had I children, my utmost endeavors would be to make them musicians.

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.

[King René of Anjou (1409-80)] would not listen to the news of his son having lost the Kingdom of Naples, because he would not bedisturbed when painting a picture of a partridge.

I am persuaded that foolish writers and foolish readers are created for each other; and that fortune provides readers as she does mates for ugly women.