Nobody can write the life of a man but those who have eat and drunk and lived in social intercourse with him.

Their origin is commonly unknown; for the practice often continues when the cause has ceased, and concerning superstitious ceremonies it is in vain to conjecture; for what reason did not dictate, reason cannot explain.

But to the particular species of excellence men are directed, not by an ascendant planet or predominating humour, but by the first book which they read, some early conversation which they heard, or some accident which excited ardour and emulation.

He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being poor.

Promise, large promise, is the soul of an advertisement.

Justice is indispensably and universally necessary, and what is necessary must always be limited, uniform, and distinct

It is not uncommon to charge the difference between promise and performance, between profession and reality, upon deep design and studied deceit; but the truth is, that there is very little hypocrisy in the world.