Sex: the pleasure is momentary, the position ridiculous, and the expense damnable.

Gratitude is a burden upon our imperfect nature.

Great merit, or great failings, will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked in the general run of the world.

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.

The less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in.

Few fathers care much for their sons, or at least, most of them care more for their money. Of those who really love their sons, few know how to do it.

The mere brute pleasure of reading - the sort of pleasure a cow must have in grazing.