It is indeed not easy to distinguish affectation from habit; he that has once studiously developed a style, rarely writes afterwards with complete ease.

He that wishes to see his country robbed of its rights cannot be a patriot.

Solitude is dangerous to reason, without being favourable to virtue. Remember that the solitary mortal is certainly luxurious, probably superstitious, and possibly mad.

There are certain topicks which are never exhausted. Of some images and sentiments the mind of man may be said to be enamoured; it meets them, however often they occur, with the same ardour which a lover feels at the sight of his mistress, and parts from them with the same regret when they can no longer be enjoyed.

The gloomy and the resentful are always found among those who have nothing to do or who do nothing.

Sorrow is properly that state of the mind in which our desires are fixed upon the past without looking forward to the future.

What is said upon a subject is gathered from an hundred people.