[W]ith an unquiet mind, neither exercise, nor diet, nor physick can be of much use.

The truth is that the spectators are always in their senses, and know, from the first act to the last, that the stage is only a stage, and that the players are only players.

Labor, if it were not necessary for existence, would be indispensable for the happiness of man.

The whole world is put in motion by the wish for riches and the dread of poverty.

Many causes may vitiate a writer's judgement of his own works. On that which has cost him much labour he sets a high value, because he is unwilling to think that he has been diligent in vain: what has been produced without toilsome efforts is considered with delight as a proof of vigorous faculties and fertile invention; and the last work, whatever it be, has necessarily most of the grace of novelty.

Many useful and valuable books lie buried in shops and libraries, unknown and unexamined, unless some lucky compiler opens them by chance, and finds an easy spoil of wit and learning.

I also admit, that there are some sluggish men who are improved by drinking; as there are fruits which are not good till they are rotten.