Every cold empirick, when his heart is expanded by a successful experiment, swells into a theorist.

To live without feeling or exciting sympathy, to be fortunate without adding to the felicity of others, or afflicted without tasting the balm of pity, is a state more gloomy than solitude; it is not retreat, but exclusion from mankind. Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.

Riches exclude only one inconvenience,--that is, poverty.

When the eye or the imagination is struck with an uncommon work, the next transition of an active mind is to the means by which it was performed

When any fit of gloominess, or perversion of mind, lays hold upon you, make it a rule not to publish it by complaints, but exert your whole care to hide it; by endeavouring to hide it; you will dry it away. Be always busy.

Corneille is to Shakespeare as a clipped hedge is to a forest.

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.