Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favor.

Whoever rises above those who once pleased themselves with equality, will have many malevolent gazers at his eminence.

Life must be filled up, and the man who is not capable of intellectual pleasures must content himself with such as his senses can afford.

Composition is for the most part an effort of slow diligence and steady perseverance, to which the mind is dragged by necessity or resolution, and from which the attention is every moment starting to more delightful amusements.

To mean understandings, it is sufficient honour to be numbered amongst the lowest labourers of learning; but different abilities must find different tasks. To hew stone, would have been unworthy of Palladio; and to have rambled in search of shells and flowers, had but ill suited with the capacity of Newton.

No one is much pleased with a companion who does not increase, in some respect, their fondness for themselves.

I have all my life long been lying in bed till noon; yet I tell all young men, and tell them with great sincerity, that nobody who does not rise early will ever do any good.