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.

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.

He had no settled plan of life, nor looked forward at all, but merely lived from day to day. Yet he read a great deal in a desultory manner, without any scheme of study, as chance threw books in his way, and inclination directed him through them.

[A]s a lady adjusts her dress before a mirror, a man adjusts his character by looking at his journal.

I am sensible that my keenness of temper, and a vanity to be distinguished for the day, make me too often splash in life.... I amresolved to restrain myself and attend more to decorum.

But the question is, whether the animals who endure such sufferings of various kinds for the service and entertainment of man, would accept existence upon the terms on which they have it.

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