Long life will sometimes obscure the star of fame.

There is no real evil in life, except great pain; all the rest is imaginary, and depends on the light in which we view things

It is the fine rain that soaks us through.

if I inflict wounds, I heal them.

I do not like to employ secretaries that have more wit than myself. I am afraid to make them write all my nonsense.

If we could have a little patience, we should escape much mortification; time takes away as much as it gives.

Were it not for the amusement of our books, we should be moped to death for want of occupation. It rains incessantly. ... we tickle ourselves in order to laugh; to so low an ebb are we reduced.