If death, said my father, reasoning with himself, is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body;--and if it is true that people can walk about and do their business without brains,--then certes the soul does not inhabit there.

People who drink too much, health, and greedy. Hoard a treasure we do not like.

In solitude the mind gains strength, and learns to lean upon herself; in the world it seeks or accepts of a few treacherous supports--the feigned compassion of one, the flattery of a second, the civilities of a third, the friendship of a fourth--they all deceive, and bring the mind back to retirement, reflection, and books.

There is such a torture, happily unknown to ancient tyranny, as talking a man to death. Marcus Aurelius advises to assent readily to great talkers--in hopes, I suppose, to put an end to the argument.

Only the brave know how to forgive; it is the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at.

There is nothing so awkward as courting a woman whilst she is making sausages.

Freethinkers are generally those who never think at all.