Brisk talkers are generally slow thinkers.

Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness, yet perhaps few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of.

As love without esteem is capricious and volatile; esteem without love is languid and cold.

The first springs of great events, like those of great rivers, are often mean and little.

When I am reading a book, whether wise or silly, it seems to me to be alive and talking to me.

Religion supposed Heaven and Hell, the word of God, and sacraments, and twenty other circumstances which, taken seriously, are a wonderful check to wit and humour.

It is as hard to satirize well a man of distinguished vices, as to praise well a man of distinguished virtues.