Every man has something to do which he neglects, every man has faults to conquer which he delays to combat.

All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not. In the same manner, all power, of whatever sort, is of itself desirable. A man would not submit to learn to hem a ruffle, of his wife, or his wife's maid; but if a mere wish could attain it, he would rather wish to be able to hem a ruffle.

To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.

There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern.

Ignorance cannot always be inferred from inaccuracy; knowledge is not always present.

It is almost always the unhappiness of a victorious disputant to destroy his own authority by claiming too many consequences, or diffusing his proposition to an indefensible extent.

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.