He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly become corrupt.

To have the management of the mind is a great art, and it may be attained in a considerable degree by experience and habitual exercise.

He that resigns his peace to little casualties, and suffers the course of his life to be interrupted for fortuitous inadvertencies or offences, delivers up himself to the direction of the wind, and loses all that constancy and equanimity which constitutes the chief praise of a wise man.

It was his peculiar happiness that he scarcely ever found a stranger whom he did not leave a friend; but it must likewise be added, that he had not often a friend long without obliging him to become a stranger.

There prevails among men of letters, an opinion, that all appearance of science is particularly hateful to Women; and that therefore whoever desires to be well received in female assemblies, must qualify himself by a total rejection of all that is serious, rational, or important; must consider argument or criticism as perpetually interdicted; and devote all his attention to trifles, and all his eloquence to compliment.

If a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove, history could not be written.

Milton, Madam, was a genius that could cut a Colossus from a rock; but could not carve heads upon cherry-stones.