We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often differ from ourselves.

Most vices may be committed very genteelly: a man may debauch his friend's wife genteelly: he may cheat at cards genteelly

Greece appears to be the fountain of knowledge; Rome of elegance

Those who have any intention of deviating from the beaten roads of life, and acquiring a reputation superior to names hourly swept away by time among the refuse of fame, should add to their reason and their spirit the power of persisting in their pur

Human experience, which is constantly contradicting theory, is the great test of truth. A system, built upon the discoveries of a great many minds, is always of more strength, than what is produced by the mere workings of any one mind, which, of itself, can do very little. There is not so poor a book in the world that would not be a prodigious effort were it wrought out entirely by a single mind, without the aid of prior investigators.

If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.

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