In discussing these exceptions from the course of nature, the first question is, whether the fact be justly stated. That which is strange is delightful, and a pleasing error is not willingly detected.

There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart a desire of distinction, which inclines every man first to hope, and then to believe, that Nature has given him something peculiar to himself.

It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote.

A man used to vicissitudes is not easily dejected.

I do not care to speak ill of a man behind his back, but I believe he is an attorney.

We owe to memory not only the increase of our knowledge, and our progress in rational inquiries, but many other intellectual pleasures

All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not. In the same manner, all power, of whatever sort, is of itself desirable. A man would not submit to learn to hem a ruffle, of his wife, or his wife's maid; but if a mere wish could attain it, he would rather wish to be able to hem a ruffle.