An age that melts in unperceiv'd decay, And glides in modest innocence away.

People in general do not willingly read if they have anything else to amuse them.

Every man who attacks my belief, diminishes in some degree my confidence in it, and therefore makes me uneasy; and I am angry with him who makes me uneasy.

That all who are happy are equally happy is not true. A peasant and a philosopher may be equally satisfied, but not equally happy. A small drinking glass and a large one may be equally full, but the large one holds more than the small.

Before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding.

Life affords no higher pleasure than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified.

Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others.