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.

A newswriter is a man without virtue, who lies at home for his own profit.

Being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned.

The essence of poetry is invention; such invention as, by producing something unexpected, surprises and delights.

I know not why any one but a school boy in his declamation would whine over the Commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as they were rich, grew corrupt; and in their corruption sold the lives and freedoms of themselves and of one another.

Nature never gives everything at once.

Almost every man wastes part of his life attempting to display qualities which he does not possess.