Every man wishes to be wise, and they who cannot be wise are almost always cunning.

There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.

Long customs are not easily broken; he that attempts to change the course of his own life very often labors in vain; and how shall we do that for others, which we are seldom able to do for ourselves.

Health is certainly more valuable than money, because it is by health that money is procured.

Fly-fishing may be a very pleasant amusement; but angling or float fishing I can only compare to a stick and a string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.

All imposture weakens confidence and chills benevolence.

An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.