Where necessity ends, desire and curiosity begin; and no sooner are we supplied with everything nature can demand than we sit down to contrive artificial appetites.

Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.

Many causes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own works. On that which has cost him much labour he sets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain: what has been produced without toilsome efforts is considered with delight as a proof of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the last work, whatever it be, has necessarily most of the grace of novelty.

Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

Love has no great influences upon the sum of life.

Riches, perhaps, do not so often produce crimes as incite accusers.

Tediousness is the most fatal of all faults.