Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations they owe, merely because they think it in some measure cancels the debt.

There are some faults so nearly allied to excellence that we can scarce weed out the vice without eradicating the virtue.

When any one of our relations was found to be a person of a very bad character, a troublesome guest, or one we desired to get rid of, upon his leaving my house I ever took care to lend him a riding-coat, or a pair of boots, or sometimes a horse of small value, and I always had the satisfaction of finding he never came back to return them.

We are all sure of two things, at least; we shall suffer and we shall all die.

What is genius or courage without a heart?

The first blow is half the battle.

The loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind.