Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.

Friendship is seldom lasting but between equals, or where the superiority on one side is reduced by some equivalent advantage on the other.

Philosophers there are who try to make themselves believe that this life is happy; but they believe it only while they are saying it, and never yet produced conviction in a single mind.

A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair.

Books to judicious compilers, are useful; to particular arts and professions, they are absolutely necessary; to men of real science, they are tools: but more are tools to them.

The truly strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small.

Unconstraint is the grace of conversation.