I prefer liberty to chains of diamonds.

A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.

There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me.

I have never had any great esteem for the generality of the fair sex, and my only consolation for being of that gender has been the assurance it gave me of never being married to any one among them.

We are no more free agents than the queen of clubs when she victoriously takes prisoner the knave of hearts.

Take back the beauty and wit you bestow upon me; leave me my own mediocrity of agreeableness and genius, but leave me also my sincerity, my constancy, and my plain dealing; 'Tis all I have to recommend me to the esteem either of others or myself.

It's in no way my interest (according to the common acceptance of that word) to convince the world of their errors; that is, I shall get nothing from it but the private satisfaction of having done good to mankind, and I know nobody that reckons that satisfaction any part of their interest.