Difficult do you call it, Sir? I wish it were impossible.

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.

All violation of established practice implies in its own nature a rejection of the common opinion, a defiance of common censure, and an appeal from general laws to private judgment: he, therefore, who differs form others without apparent advantage, ought not to be angry if his arrogance is punished with ridicule; if those whose example he superciliously overlooks, point him out to derision, and hoot him back again into the common road.

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.

I should as soon think of contradicting a bishop

The advice that is wanted is commonly not welcome and that which is not wanted, evidently an effrontery.

Bashfulness may sometimes exclude pleasure, but seldom opens any avenue to sorrow or remorse.