Montesquieu well knew, and justly admired, the happy constitution of this country [Great Britain], where fixed and known laws equally restrain monarchy from tyranny and liberty from licentiousness.

Singularity is only pardonable in old age and retirement; I may now be as singular as I please, but you may not.

I can hardly bring myself to caution you against drinking, because I am persuaded that I am writing to a rational creature, a gentleman, and not to a swine. However, that you may not be insensibly drawn into that beastly custom of even sober drinking and sipping, as the sots call it, I advise you to be of no club whatsoever.

The heart never grows better by age; I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young knave will only be a greater knave as he grows older.

I love every-day senses, every-day wit and entertainment; a man who is only good on holidays, is good for very little.

Two people cannot be alone together for upwards of half an hour without one emerging as the superior.

The power of applying attention, steady and undissipated, to a single object, is the sure mark of superior genius.