Alas! if the principles of contentment are not within us, the height of station and worldly grandeur will as soon add a cubit to a man's stature as to his happiness.

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

I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.

I have undertaken, you see, to write not only my life, but my opinions also; hoping and expecting that your knowledge of my character, and of what kind of a mortal I am, by the one, would give you a better relish for the other: As you proceed further with me, the slight acquaintance which is now beginning betwixt us, will grow into familiarity; and that, unless one of us is in fault, will terminate in friendship.

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

An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.

Shall we be destined to the days of eternity, on holy-days, as well as working-days, to be showing the relics of learning, as monks do the relics of their saints - without working one - one single miracle with them?