Of those that spin out trifles and die without a memorial, many flatter themselves with high opinions of their own importance, and imagine that they are every day adding some improvement to human life.

Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal; and he may be properly charged with evil who refused to learn how he might prevent it.

Suspicion is very often a useless pain.

A writer who obtains his full purpose loses himself in his own lustre.

There are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money.

The triumph of hope over experience.

In discussing these exceptions from the course of nature, the first question is, whether the fact be justly stated. That which is strange is delightful, and a pleasing error is not willingly detected.