The folly of others is ever most ridiculous to those who are themselves most foolish.

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

Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine!

There is yet a silent agony in which the mind appears to disdain all external help, and broods over its distresses with gloomy reserve. This is the most dangerous state of mind; accidents or friendships may lessen the louder kinds of grief, but all remedies for this must be had from within, and there despair too often finds the most deadly enemy.

I have seen her and sister cry over a book for an hour together, and they said, they liked the book the better the more it made them cry.

The first blow is half the battle.

Measures, not men, have always been my mark.