It is almost always the unhappiness of a victorious disputant to destroy his own authority by claiming too many consequences, or diffusing his proposition to an indefensible extent.

Were it not for imagination a man would be as happy in the arms of a chambermaid as of a duchess.

From ignorance our comfort flows, the only wretched are the wise

It may be laid down as a position which seldom deceives, that when a man cannot bear his own company, there is something wrong.

Critics, like the rest of mankind, are very frequently misled by interest.

It is incident to physicians, I am afraid, beyond all other men, to mistake subsequence for consequence.

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.