Philosophy can add to our happiness in no other manner but by diminishing our misery; it should not pretend to increase our present stock, but make us economists of what we are possessed of. Happy were we all born philosophers; all born with a talent of thus dissipating our own cares by spreading them upon all mankind.

There is a greatness in being generous, and there is only simple justice in satisfying creditors. Generosity is the part of the soul raised above the vulgar.

A mind too vigorous and active, serves only to consume the body to which it is joined.

Absence, like death, sets a seal on the image of those we love: we cannot realize the intervening changes which time may have effected.

The person whose clothes are extremely fine I am too apt to consider as not being possessed of any superiority of fortune, but resembling those Indians who are found to wear all the gold they have in the world in a bob at the nose.

All that a husband or wife really wants is to be pitied a little, praised a little, and appreciated a little.

And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, that one small head could carry all he knew.