I write to keep from going mad from the contradictions I find among mankind - and to work some of those contradictions out for myself.

Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our due, as she employs it favorably and well in artificially disguising and tricking out the ills of life to alleviate the sense of them.

A foreign war is a lot milder than a civil war.

To divert myself from a troublesome fancy, it is but to run to my books; they presently fix me to them, and drive the other out of my thoughts, and do not mutiny to see that I have only recourse to them for want of other more, real, natural, and lively conveniences; they always receive me with the same kindness.

A man should think less of what he eats and more with whom he eats because no food is so satisfying as good company.

Take care that old age does not wrinkle your spirit even more than your face.

We must reserve a back shop all our own entirely free, in which to establish our real liberty and our principal retreat and solitude.