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.

The excellence of aphorisms consists not so much in the expression of some rare or abstruse sentiment, as in the comprehension of some useful truth in a few words.

Advice is offensive, not because it lays us open to unexpected regret, or convicts us of any fault which had escaped our notice, but because it shows us that we are known to others as well as to ourselves; and the officious monitor is persecuted with hatred, not because his accusation is false, but because he assumes that superiority which we are not willing to grant him, and has dared to detect what we desired to conceal.

The inevitable consequence of poverty is dependence.

Bachelors have consciences, married men have wives.

Never mind the use--do it!

There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.