I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers, but I love Counsellor Such-a-one, and Judge Such-a-one: so with physicians - I will not speak of my own trade - soldiers, English, Scotch, French, and the rest. But principally I hate and detest that animal called man, although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas, and so forth. This is the system upon which I have governed myself many years, but do not tell.

It is a maxim, that those, to whom everybody allows the second place, have an undoubted title to the first.

The bulk of mankind is as well equipped for flying as thinking.

War: that mad game the world so loves to play.

There's none so blind as they that won't see.

I won't quarrel with my bread and butter.

Seamen have a custom, when they meet a whale, to fling him out an empty tub by way of amusement, to divert him from laying violent hands upon the ship.