Knowledge is praised and desired by multitudes whom her charms could never rouse from the couch of sloth; whom the faintest invitation of pleasure draws away from their studies; to whom any other method of wearing the day is more eligible than the use of books, and who are more easily engaged by any conversation than such as may rectify their notions or enlarge their comprehension.

No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannize, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.

Sir, he throws away his money without thought and without merit. I do not call a tree generous that sheds its fruit at every breeze.

The man who feels himself ignorant should, at least, be modest.

He who would govern his actions by the laws of virtue must regulate his thoughts by those of reason.

To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.

It is not often that any man can have so much knowledge of another, as is necessary to make instruction useful.