The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness.

I never knew a critic who made it his business to lash the faults of other writers that was not guilty of greater himself--as the hangman is generally a worse malefactor than the criminal that suffers by his hand.

It has been said in praise of some men, that they could take whole hours together upon anything; but it must be owned to the honor of the other sex that there are many among them who can talk whole hours together upon nothing. I have known a woman branch out into a long extempore dissertation on the edging of a petticoat, and chide her servant for breaking a china cup, in all the figures of rhetoric.

A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes.

It is impossible for authors to discover beauties in one another's works; they have eyes only for spots and blemishes.

Religion contracts the circle of our pleasures, but leaves it wide enough for her votaries to expatiate in.

A brother's sufferings claim a brother's pity.