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.

Fools are apt to imitate only the defects of their betters.

Nothing is so great an instance of ill-manners as flattery.

There are certain common privileges of a writer, the benefit whereof, I hope, there will be no reason to doubt; particularly, that where I am not understood, it shall be concluded, that something very useful and profound is couched underneath; and again, that whatever word or sentence is printed in a different character, shall be judged to contain something extraordinary either or wit of sublime.

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

Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.

Usually speaking, the worst-bred person in company is a young traveller just returned from abroad.