Peaceable times are the best to live in, though not so proper to furnish materials for a writer.

Man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.

In the common run of mankind, for one that is wise and good you find ten of a contrary character.

Content has a kindly influence on the soul of man, in respect of every being to whom he stands related. It extinguishes all murmuring, repining, and ingratitude toward that Being who has allotted us our part to act in the world. It destroys all inordinate ambition; gives sweetness to the conversation, and serenity to all the thoughts; and if it does not bring riches, it does the same thing by banishing the desire of them.

The great number of the Jews furnishes us with a sufficient cloud of witnesses that attest the truth of the Bible.

The very first discovery of beauty strikes the mind with an inward joy, and spreads a cheerfulness and delight through all its faculties.

It was a saying of an ancient philosopher, which I find some of our writers have ascribed to Queen Elizabeth, who perhaps might have taken occasion to repeat it, that a good face is a letter of recommendation.