Few have abilities so much needed by the rest of the world as to be caressed on their own terms; and he that will not condescend to recommend himself by external embellishments must submit to the fate of just sentiment meanly expressed, and be ridiculed and forgotten before he is understood.

Every man has something to do which he neglects, every man has faults to conquer which he delays to combat.

I have always considered a clergyman as the father of a larger family than he is able to maintain.

If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards.

It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.

We may take Fancy for a companion, but must follow Reason as our guide.

Quotation is a good thing, there is a community of thought in it.