Never believe extraordinary characters which you hear of people. Depend upon it, they are exaggerated. You do not see one man shoot a great deal higher than another.

A voyage to the moon, however romantick and absurd the scheme may now appear, since the properties of air have been better understood, seemed highly probable to many of the aspiring wits in the last century

The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.

The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne.

Moderation is commonly firm, and firmness is commonly successful.

The worst evils are those that never arrive.

Courage is the greatest of all virtues, because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.