Love has no great influences upon the sum of life.

There are, indeed, few kinds of composition from which an author, however learned or ingenious, can hope a long continuance of fame.

Cunning differs from wisdom as twilight from open day.

A man is very apt to complain of the ingratitude of those who have risen far above him.

Where no man thinks himself under any obligation to submit to another, and, instead of co-operating in one great scheme, every one hastens through by-paths to private profit, no great change can suddenly be made; nor is superior knowledge of much effect, where every man resolves to use his own eyes and his own judgment, and every one applauds his own dexterity and diligence, in proportion as he becomes rich sooner than his neighbour.

Very few live by choice. Every man is placed in his present condition by causes which acted without his foresight, and with which he did not always willingly cooperate; and therefore you will rarely meet one who does not think the lot of his neighbor better than his own.

Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument.