I know of no manner of speaking so offensive as that of giving praise, and closing it with an exception.

It is the duty of a great person so to demean himself, as that whatever endowments he may have, he may appear to value himself upon no qualities but such as any man may arrive at.

The insupportable labor of doing nothing.

When a man is not disposed to hear music, there is not a more disagreeable sound in harmony than that of the violin.

It is a wonderful thing that so many, and they not reckoned absurd, shall entertain those with whom they converse by giving them the history of their pains and aches and imagine such narrations their quota of conversation.

Violins are the lively, forward, importunate wits, that distinguish themselves by the flourishes of imagination, sharpness of repartee, glances of satire, and bear away the upper part in every consort.

The person, whom you favored with a loan, if he be a good man, will think himself in your debt after he has paid you.