Terrestrial happiness is of short duration. The brightness of the flame is wasting its fuel; the fragrant flower is passing away in its own odors.

The botanist looks upon the astronomer as a being unworthy of his regard; and he that is glowing great and happy by electrifying a bottle wonders how the world can be engaged by trifling prattle about war and peace.

As pride sometimes is hid under humility, idleness if often covered by turbulence and hurry.

Every man is of importance to himself, and, therefore, in his own opinion, to others; and, supposing the world already acquainted with his pleasures and his pains, is perhaps the first to publish injuries or misfortunes which had never been known unless related by himself, and at which those that hear them will only laugh, for no man sympathises with the sorrows of vanity.

The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.

He who would have fine guests, let him have a fine wife.

He was so generally civil, that nobody thanked him for it.