After we came out of the church, we stood talking for some time together of Bishop Berkeley's ingenious sophistry to prove the non-existence of matter, and that every thing in the universe is merely ideal. I observed, that though we are satisfied his doctrine is not true, it is impossible to refute it. I never shall forget the alacrity with which Johnson answered, striking his foot with mighty force against a large stone, till he rebounded from it, "I refute it thus."

Those who would extirpate evil from the world know little of human nature. As well might punch be palatable without souring as existence agreeable without care.

In an orchard there should be enough to eat, enough to lay up, enough to be stolen, and enough to rot on the ground.

Many infidels have maintained that Ignorance is the mother of Devotion.

When a man is familiar with many people he must expect many disagreeable familiarizations.

My definition of Man is, a Cooking Animal. The beasts have memory, judgement, and all the faculties and passions of our mind, in a certain degree; but no beast is a cook....Man alone can dress a good dish; and every man whatever is more or less a cook, in seasoning what he himself eats.

When we know exactly all a man's views and how he comes to speak and act so and so, we lose any respect for him, though we may love and admire him.