The motives of the best actions will not bear too strict an inquiry. It is allowed that the cause of most actions, good or bad, may be resolved into the love of ourselves; but the self-love of some men inclines them to please others, and the self-love of others is wholly employed in pleasing themselves. This makes the great distinction between virtue and vice.

I cannot but conclude that the Bulk of your Natives, to be the most pernicious Race of little odious Vermin that Nature ever suffered to crawl upon the Surface of the Earth.

The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without it.

Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old.

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

It is in disputes as in armies, where the weaker side sets up false lights, and makes a great noise, to make the enemy believe them more numerous and strong than they really are.

Ah, a German and a genius ! A prodigy, admit him !