But the distant hope of being one day useful or eminent ought not to mislead us too far from that study which is equally requisite to the great and mean, to the celebrated and obscure; the art of moderating the desires, of repressing the appetites; and of conciliating or retaining the favour of mankind.

Few things are so liberally bestowed, or squandered with so little effect, as good advice.

The world is not yet exhausted: let me see something tomorrow which I never saw before.

The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.

The superiority of some men is merely local. They are great because their associates are little.

Few men survey themselves with so much severity as not to admit prejudices in their own favour, which an artful flatterer may gradually strengthen, till wishes for a particular qualification are improved to hopes of attainment, and hopes of attainment to belief of possession.

"I fly from pleasure," said the prince, "because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others."