There is in this world no real delight (excepting those of sensuality), but exchange of ideas in conversation.

I inherited a vile melancholy from my father, which has made me mad all my life, at least not sober.

Read over your compositions and whenever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out.

Invention is almost the only literary labour which blindness cannot obstruct.

No degree of knowledge attainable by man is able to set him above the want of hourly assistance, or to extinguish the desire of fond endearments and tender officiousness; and, therefore, no one should think it unnecessary to learn those arts by which friendship may be gained.

Babies do not want to hear about babies; they like to be told of giants and castles.

The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.