Conscience is justice's best minister; it threatens, promises, rewards, and punishes and keeps all under control; the busy must attend to its remonstrances, the most powerful submit to its reproof, and the angry endure its upbraidings. While conscience is our friend all is peace; but if once offended farewell the tranquil mind.

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

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

Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. She will not want new fashions nor regret the loss of expensive diversions or variety of company if she can be amused with an author in her closet.

My health is so often impaired that I begin to be as weary of it as mending old lace; when it is patched in one place, it breaks out in another.

Gardening is certainly the next amusement to reading.