If a man who is born to a fortune cannot make himself easier and freer than those who are not, he gains nothing.

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.

Writing a book I have found to be like building a house. A man forms a plan, and collects materials. He thinks he has enough to raise a large and stately edifice; but after he has arranged, compacted and polished, his work turns out to be a very small performance. The authour however like the builder, knows how much labour his work has cost him; and therefore estimates it at a higher rate than other people think it deserves

The man who stops making new friends eventually will have none.

I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends.

I have seen many a bear led by a man: but I never before saw a man led by a bear.

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