If it were a rainy day, a drunken vigil, a fit of the spleen, a course of physic, sleepy Sunday, an ill run at dice, a long tailor's bill, a beggar's purse, a factious head, a hot sun, costive diet, want of books, and a just contempt for learning - but for these. . .the number of authors and of writing would dwindle away to a degree most woeful to behold.

I must complain the cards are ill shuffled till I have a good hand.

I love good creditable acquaintance; I love to be the worst of the company.

A traveler's chief aim should be to make men wiser and better, and to improve their minds by the bad-as well as good example of what they deliver concerning foreign places.

My hunger serves me instead of a clock.

There is no vice which mankind carries to such wild extremes as that of avarice.

I'm as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth.