Wisdom and virtue are by no means sufficient, without the supplemental laws of good-breeding, to secure freedom from degenerating into rudeness, or self esteem from swelling into insolence. A thousand incivilities may be committed, and a thousand offices neglected. without any remorse of conscience, or reproach from reason.

Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, the midnight murderer bursts the faithless bar; invades the sacred hour of silent rest and leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast.

No man is obliged to do as much as he can do. A man is to have part of his life to himself.

There are, indeed, few kinds of composition from which an author, however learned or ingenious, can hope a long continuance of fame.

Friends are often chosen for similitude of manners, and therefore each palliates the other's failings because they are his own.

Being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.

There is no being so poor and so contemptible, who does not think there is somebody still poorer, and still more contemptible.