You may translate books of science exactly. ... The beauties of poetry cannot be preserved in any language except that in which it was originally written.

I will take no more physick, not even my opiates; for I have prayed that I may render up my soul to God unclouded.

Faults and defects every work of man must have.

The luster of diamonds is invigorated by the interposition of darker bodies; the lights of a picture are created by the shades; the highest pleasure which nature has indulged to sensitive perception is that of rest after fatigue.

The perfect day for quitting is not real. It will never come, so might as well start today

Hope itself is a species of happiness, and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world affords; but, like all other pleasures immoderately enjoyed, the excesses of hope must be expiated by pain.

Attention and respect give pleasure, however late, or however useless. But they are not useless, when they are late, it is reasonable to rejoice, as the day declines, to find that it has been spent with the approbation of mankind.