The chameleon, who is said to feed upon nothing but air, has of all animals the nimblest tongue.

Daphne knows, with equal ease, How to vex and how to please; But the folly of her sex Makes her sole delight to vex.

I have known some men possessed of good qualities which were very serviceable to others, but useless to themselves; like a sun-dial on the front of a house, to inform the neighbours and passengers, but not the owner within.

Common fluency of speech in many men and most women is owing to a scarcity of matter.

When a man of genius appears in the world, it is immediately recognized by the fact that all the blockheads join forces against him.

Whatever the poets pretend, it is plain they give immortality to none but themselves; it is Homer and Virgil we reverence and admire, not Achilles or Aeneas. With historians it is quite the contrary; our thoughts are taken up with the actions, persons, and events we read, and we little regard the authors.

A poor spirit is poorer than a poor purse. A very few pounds a year would ease a man of the scandal of avarice.