The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance, and never to keep his word.

The power of fortune is confessed only by the miserable, for the happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.

Brutes find out where their talents lie; a bear will not attempt to fly.

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.

Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind reception it meets with in the world, and that so very few are offended with it.

Life is a tragedy wherein we sit as spectators for a while and then act our part in it.

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