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 gratification of curiosity rather frees us from uneasiness than confers pleasure; we are more pained by ignorance than delighted by instruction. Curiosity is the thirst of the soul; it inflames and torments us, and makes us taste every thing with joy, however otherwise insipid, by which it may be quenched.

Suspicion is most often useless pain.

Don't, Sir, accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.

Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world.

To read, write, and converse in due proportions, is, therefore, the business of a man of letters.

The end of writing is to instruct; the end of poetry is to instruct by pleasing.