But the fruit that can fall without shaking Indeed is too mellow for me.

I don't say 'Tis impossible for an impudent man not to rise in the world, but a moderate merit with a large share of impudence is more probable to be advanced than the greatest qualifications without it.

Muse, time has taught me that all metaphysical systems, even historical facts given as truths, are hardly that, so I amuse myself with more agreeable lies; I no longer read anything but novels.

Men are vile inconstant toads.

We travellers are in very hard circumstances. If we say nothing but what has been said before us, we are dull and have observed nothing. If we tell anything new, we are laughed at as fabulous and romantic.

The knowledge of numbers is one of the chief distinctions between us and the brutes.

Tis the established custom [in Vienna] for every lady to have two husbands, one that bears the name, and another that performs the duties.