The chaste mind, like a polished plane, may admit foul thoughts, without receiving their tincture.

There is not a greater paradox in nature,--than that so good a religion [as Christianity] should be no better recommended by its professors.

Sweet pliability of man's spirit, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments! - long - long since had ye numbered out my days, had I not trod so great a part of them upon this enchanted ground. When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it, to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rose-buds of delights; and have taken a few turns on it, come back strengthened and refreshed.

Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.

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.

A dwarf who brings a standard along with him to measure his own size, take my word, is a dwarf in more articles than one.

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