It is strange that there should be so little reading in the world, and so much writing. People in general do not willingly read, if they can have any thing else to amuse them.

All unnecessary vows are folly, because they suppose a prescience of the future, which has not been given us.

To excite opposition and inflame malevolence is the unhappy privilege of courage made arrogant by consciousness of strength.

Men who cannot deceive others are very often successful at deceiving themselves.

Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.

It is unpleasing to represent our affairs to our own disadvantage; yet it is necessary to shew the evils which we desire to be removed.

If I have said something to hurt a man once, I shall not get the better of this by saying many things to please him.