Humor is the offspring of man; it comes forth like Minerva, fully armed from the brain.

There is no creature so contemptible but by resolution may gain his point.

The lowest boor may laugh on being tickled, but a man must have intelligence to be amused by wit.

What signifies the sound of words in prayer without the affection of the heart, and a sedulous application of the proper means that may naturally lead us to such an end?

Figure-flingers and star-gazers pretend to foretell the fortunes of kingdoms, and have no foresight in what concerns themselves.

Some people are all quality; you would think they are made up of nothing but title and genealogy. The stamp of dignity defaces in them the very character of humanity and transports them to such a degree of haughtiness that they reckon it below themselves to exercise either good nature or good manners.

He that contemns a shrew to the degree of not descending to words with her does worse than beat her.