Many causes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own works. On that which has cost him much labour he sets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain: what has been produced without toilsome efforts is considered with delight as a proof of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the last work, whatever it be, has necessarily most of the grace of novelty.

The hour of reformation is always delayed; every delay gives vice another opportunity of fortifying itself by habit.

As peace is the end of war, so to be idle is the ultimate purpose of the busy.

If the man who turnips cries, Cry not when his father dies, 'Tis proof that he had rather Have a turnip than his father.

Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument.

No knowledge is useless, with the exception of heraldry.

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.