Go into the street, and give one man a lecture on morality, and another a shilling, and see which will respect you most.

The usual fortune of complaint is to excite contempt more than pity.

Celestial wisdom calms the mind.

Of riches it is not necessary to write the praise. Let it, however, be remembered that he who has money to spare has it always in his power to benefit others, and of such power a good man must always be desirous.

Admiration and love are like being intoxicated with champagne; judgment and friendship are like being enlivened.

Truth, like beauty, varies its fashions, and is best recommended by different dresses to different minds; and he that recalls the attention of mankind to any part of learning which time has left behind it, may be truly said to advance the literatures of his own age. As the manners of nations vary, new topicks of persuasion become necessary, and new combinations of imagery are produced; and he that can accommodate himself to the reigning taste, may always have readers who perhaps would not have looked upon better performances.

Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.