You can be pleased with nothing if you are not pleased with yourself.

[On her political writings:] It is, I confess, very possible that these my Labours may only be destined to line Trunks, or preserve roast Meat from too fierce a Fire; yet in that Shape I shall be useful to my Country.

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 prefer liberty to chains of diamonds.

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.

We have all our playthings. Happy are they who are contented with those they can obtain; those hours are spent in the wisest manner that can easiest shade the ills of life, and are the least productive of ill consequences.

Copiousness of words, however ranged, is always false eloquence, though it will ever impose on some sort of understandings.