An opera may be allowed to be extravagantly lavish in its decorations, as its only design is to gratify the senses and keep up an indolent attention in the audience.

Dependence is a perpetual call upon humanity, and a greater incitement to tenderness and pity than any other motive whatever.

We see no where the pernicious effects of luxury on a republic more than in that of the ancient Romans, who immediately found itself poor as soon as this vice got footing among them, though they were possessed of all the riches in the world.

Whether zeal or moderation be the point we aim at, let us keep fire out of the one, and frost out of the other.

There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.

There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.

Upon laying a weight in one of the scales, inscribed eternity, though I threw in that of time, prosperity, affliction, wealth, and poverty, which seemed very ponderous, they were not able to stir the opposite balance.