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.

Difference of thoughts will produce difference of language. He that thinks with more extent than another, will want words of a larger meaning; he that thinks with more subtilty will seek for terms of more nice discrimination; and where is the wonder, since words are but the images of things, that he who never knew the original should not know the copies?

Pointed axioms and acute replies fly loose about the world, and are assigned successively to those whom it may be the fashion to celebrate.

The highest panegyric, therefore, that private virtue can receive, is the praise of servants.

In proportion as our cares are employed upon the future, they are abstracted from the present, from the only time which we can call our own, and of which, if we neglect the apparent duties to make provision against visionary attacks, we shall certainly counteract our own purpose.

How few of his friends' houses would a man choose to be at when he is sick.

None but a fool worries about things he cannot influence.