Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem.

Religion supposed Heaven and Hell, the word of God, and sacraments, and twenty other circumstances which, taken seriously, are a wonderful check to wit and humour.

Story-telling is subject to two unavoidable defects,--frequent repetition and being soon exhausted; so that, whoever values this gift in himself, has need of a good memory, and ought frequently to shift his company.

Simplicity, without which no human performance can arrive at perfection.

When a real genius appeares in this world, you'll know him by the fact that all the fools have allied against him.

Common fluency of speech in many men and most women is owing to a scarcity of matter.

Books, the children of the brain.