I speak the truth, not my fill of it, but as much as I dare speak; and I dare to do so a little more as I grow old.

All opinions in the world agree in this, that pleasure is our end, although they differ as to the means of attaining it.

Most of our occupations are low comedy.... We must play our part duly, but as the part of a borrowed character. Of the mask and appearance we must not make a real essence, nor of what is foreign what is our very own.

Nature has with a Motherly Tenderness observed this, that the Action she has enjoyned us for our Necessity should be also pleasant to us, and invites us to them, not only by Reason, but also by Appetite: and ’tis Injustice to infringe her Laws.

There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.

This idea is more surely understood by interrogation; WHAT DO I KNOW? which I bear as my motto with the emblem of a pair of scales.

Dreams are faithful interpreters of our inclinations; but there is art required to sort and understand them.