How often do we contradict the right rules of reason in the whole course of our lives! Reason itself is true and just, but the reason of every particular man is weak and wavering, perpetually swayed and turned by his interests, his passions, and his vices.

They say fingers were made before forks, and hands before knives.

I always love to begin a journey on Sundays, because I shall have the prayers of the church to preserve all that travel by land, or water.

It is the first rule in oratory that a man must appear such as he would persuade others to be: and that can be accomplished only by the force of his life.

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

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

All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next year's revenue.