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.

Silence propagates itself, and the longer talk has been suspended, the more difficult it is to find anything to say.

There seems to be a strange affectation in authors of appearing to have done everything by chance.

The necessary connexion of representatives with taxes, seems to have sunk deep into many of those minds, that admit sounds, without their meaning.

A few men are sufficient to broach falsehoods, which are afterwards innocently diffused by successive relaters.

Women can spin very well; but they cannot make a good book of cookery.

Courtesy and good-humour are often found with little real worth.