For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.

The circumstances with which every thing in this world is begirt, give every thing in this world its size and shape;--and by tightening it, or relaxing it, this way or that, make the thing to be, what it is--great--little--good--bad--indifferent or not indifferent, just as the case happens.

There are some tempers--how shall I describe them--formed either of such impenetrable matter, or wrought up by habitual selfishness to such an utter insensibility of what becomes of the fortunes of their fellow-creatures, as if they were not partakers of the same nature, or had no lot or connection at all with the species.

To write a book is for all the world like humming a song.

Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.

Chance is the providence of adventurers.