People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt.

I often wish for the end of the wretched remnant of my life; and that wish is a rational one; but then the innate principle of self-preservation, wisely implanted in our natures, for obvious purposes, opposes that wish, and makes us endeavour to spin out our thread as long as we can, however decayed and rotten it may be.

If you will please people, you must please them in their own way.

Knowledge of the world in only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.

If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.

Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you.

It is reported here that the King of Prussia has gone mad and has been locked up. There would be nothing bad about that: at leastthat might of his would no longer be a menace, and you could breathe freely for a while. I much prefer madmen who are locked up to those who are not.