I am afraid we are little better than straws upon the water; we may flatter ourselves that we swim, when the current carries us along.

I have often observ'd the loudest Laughers to be the dullest Fellows in the Company.

Making verses is almost as common as taking snuff, and God can tell what miserable stuff people carry about in their pockets, and offer to all their acquaintances, and you know one cannot refuse reading and taking a pinch.

My dear Smollett ... disgraces his talent by writing those stupid romances called history.

It is the common error of builders and parents to follow some plan they think beautiful (and perhaps is so) without considering that nothing is beautiful that is misplaced.

General notions are generally wrong.

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.