Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment.

Luncheon: as much food as one's hand can hold.

Our minds, like our bodies, are in continual flux; something is hourly lost, and something acquired.... Do not suffer life to stagnate; it will grow muddy for want of motion: commit yourself again to the current of the world.

Go into the street, and give one man a lecture on morality, and another a shilling, and see which will respect you most.

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest.

You never find people laboring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful income.

Never, my dear Sir, do you take it into your head that I do not love you; you may settle yourself in full confidence both of my love and my esteem; I love you as a kind man, I value you as a worthy man, and hope in time to reverence you as a man of exemplary piety.