Custom is a violent and treacherous school mistress. She, by little and lithe, slyly and unperceived, slips in the foot of her authority; but having by this gentle and humble beginning, with the benefit of time, fixed and established it, she then unmasks a furious and tyrannic countenance, against which we have no more the courage or the power so much as to lift up our eyes.

How often our involuntary facial motions testify to the thoughts we were keeping secret, and betray us to those around!

I am myself the matter of my book.

Wise men have more to learn of fools than fools of wise men.

Truly man is a marvelously vain, diverse, and undulating object. It is hard to found any constant and uniform judgment on him.

A speech belongs half to the speaker and half to the listener.

A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance, if that can be called affection.