Beauties are always curious about beauties, and wits about wits.

It is not so easy to do good as those who have never attempted it may imagine.

wit is often its own worst enemy.

Books only spoil the originality of genius. Very well for those who can't think for themselves - But when one has made up one's opinions, there is no use in reading.

It is quite fitting that charity should begin at home ... but then it should not end at home; for those that help nobody will find none to help them in time of need.

[On collectors of quotations:] How far our literature may in future suffer from these blighting swarms, will best be conceived by a glance at what they have already withered and blasted of the favourite productions of our most popular poets.

a straight line is the shortest possible line between any two points - an axiom equally true in morals as in mathematics.