Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree. We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.

Extended empires are like expanded gold, exchanging solid strength for feeble splendor.

The care of the critic should be to distinguish error from inability, faults of inexperience from defects of nature.

The safe and general antidote against sorrow is employment. It is commonly observed, that among soldiers and seamen, though there is much kindness, there is little grief; they see their friend fall without any of that lamentation which is indulged in security and idleness, because they have no leisure to spare from the care of themselves; and whoever shall keep his thoughts equally busy will find himself equally unaffected with irretrievable losses.

That what cannot be repaired is not to be regretted.

Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

Apologies are seldom of any use.