Society seldom forgives those who have discovered the emptiness of its pleasures, and who can live independent of it and them.

Mediocrity is beneath a brave soul.

The difference between weakness and wickedness is much less than people suppose; and the consequences are nearly always the same.

Sure there's different roads from this to Dungarvan* - some thinks one road pleasanter, and some think another; wouldn't it be mighty foolish to quarrel for this? - and sure isn't it twice worse to thry to interfere with people for choosing the road they like best to heaven?

Love in France is a comedy; in England a tragedy; in Italy an opera seria; and in Germany a melodrama.

Satire, like conscience, reminds us of what we often wish to forget.

We are more prone to murmur at the punishment of our faults than to lament them.