Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.

I fancy mankind may come, in time, to write all aphoristically, except in narrative; grow weary of preparation, and connection, and illustration, and all those arts by which a big book is made.

When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

Cunning has effect from the credulity of others, rather than from the abilities of those who are cunning. It requires no extraordinary talents to lie and deceive.

The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning.

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

Being reproached for giving to an unworthy person, Aristotle said, I did not give it to the man, but to humanity.