Writers of novels and romance in general bring a double loss to their readers; robbing them of their time and money; representing men, manners, and things, that never have been, or are likely to be.

... if it were the fashion to go naked, the face would be hardly observed.

A man that is ashamed of passions that are natural and reasonable is generally proud of those that are shameful and silly.

Begin nothing without considering what the end may be.

Strictly speaking, there is but one real evil: I mean acute pain. All other complaints are so considerably diminished by time that it is plain the grief is owing to our passion, since the sensation of it vanishes when that is over.

I despise the pleasure of pleasing people that I despise.

Nobody can deny but religion is a comfort to the distressed, a cordial to the sick, and sometimes a restraint on the wicked.