Writings may be compared to wine. Sense is the strength, but wit the flavor.

The most affluent may be stripped of all, and find his worldly comforts, like so many withered leaves, dropping from him.

It is the nature of an hypothesis, when once a man has conceived it, that it assimilates every thing to itself, as proper nourishment; and, from the first moment of your begetting it, it generally grows the stronger by every thing you see, hear, read, or understand.

First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.

Before an affliction is digested, consolation ever comes too soon; and after it is digested, it comes too late.

Chance is the providence of adventurers.

The more tickets you have in a lottery, the worse your chance. And it is the same of virtues, in the lottery of life.