Music is the only sensual gratification which mankind may indulge in to excess without injury to their moral or religious feelings.

Among those evils which befall us, there are many which have been more painful to us in the prospect than by their actual pressure.

I have somewhere met with the epitaph on a charitable man which has pleased me very much. I cannot recollect the words, but here is the sense of it: 'What I spent I lost; what I possessed is left to others; what I gave away remains with me.'

An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.

What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.

An indiscreet man is more hurtful than an ill-natured one; for as the latter will only attack his enemies, and those he wishes ill to, the other injures indifferently both friends and foes.

Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought.