It often happens that, if a lie be believed only for an hour, it has done its work, and there is no further occasion for it.

A little grain of the romance is no ill ingredient to preserve and exalt the dignity of human nature, without which it is apt to degenerate into everything that is sordid, vicious and low.

Old sciences are unraveled like old stockings, by beginning at the foot.

I will venture to affirm, that the three seasons wherein our corn has miscarried did no more contribute to our present misery, than one spoonful of water thrown upon a rat already drowned would contribute to his death; and that the present plentiful harvest, although it should be followed by a dozen ensuing, would no more restore us, than it would the rat aforesaid to put him near the fire, which might indeed warm his fur-coat, but never bring him back to life.

Reason is a very light rider, and easily shook off.

Principally I hate and detest that animal called man; although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth.

No preacher is listened to but time, which gives us the same train and turn of thought that elder people have in vain tried to put into our heads before.