A man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk.

I am always sorry when any language is lost, because languages are the pedigrees of nations.

Among those whose reputation is exhausted in a short time by its own luxuriance are the writers who take advantage of present incidents or characters which strongly interest the passions, and engage universal attention. It is not difficult to obtain readers, when we discuss a question which every one is desirous to understand, which is debated in every assembly, and has divided the nation into parties; or when we display the faults or virtues of him whose public conduct has made almost every man his enemy or his friend.

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him, for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

Fear naturally quickens the flight of guilt.

Books without the knowledge of life are useless.

There is nothing so minute, or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not.