Hope is necessary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness and captivity would, without this comfort, be insupportable.

Men, however distinguished by external accidents or intrinsick qualities, have all the same wants, the same pains, and, as far as the senses are consulted, the same pleasures.

There must always be some advantage on one side or the other, and it is better that advantage should be had by talents than by chance.

Misfortunes should always be expected.

Depend upon it that if a man talks of his misfortunes there is something in them that is not disagreeable to him; for where there is nothing but pure misery there never is any recourse to the mention of it.

Knock the 't' off the 'can't.'

Those who will not take the trouble to think for themselves, have always somebody that thinks for them; and the difficulty in writing is to please those from whom others learn to be pleased.