How many thousands of [lives] are there every year that comes cast away, (in all civilized countries at least)--and consider'd asnothing but common air, in competition of an hypothesis.

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.

If there is an evil in this world, it is sorrow and heaviness of heart. The loss of goods, of health, of coronets and mitres, is only evil as they occasion sorrow; take that out, the rest is fancy, and dwelleth only in the head of man.

Almost one half of our time is spent in telling and hearing evil of one another ... and every hour brings forth something strange and terrible to fill up our discourse and our astonishment.

The best friends in the world may differ sometimes.

But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.

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