What I gained by being in France was learning to be better satisfied with my own country.

Cautious age suspects the flattering form, and only credits what experience tells.

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

Words too familiar, or too remote, defeat the purpose of a poet.

In general those parents have the most reverence who most deserve it; for he that lives well cannot be despised.

To proportion the eagerness of contest to its importance seems too hard a task for human wisdom. The pride of wit has kept ages busy in the discussion of useless questions, and the pride of power has destroyed armies, to gain or to keep unprofitable possessions.

Nothing odd will do long. Tristram Shandy did not last.