Great abilities are not requisite for an Historian; for in historical composition, all the greatest powers of the human mind are quiescent.

Extended empires are like expanded gold, exchanging solid strength for feeble splendor.

A country gentleman should bring his lady to visit London as soon as he can, that they may have agreeable topicks for conversation when they are by themselves.

For who is pleased with himself.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present. The acknowledgment of those virtues on which conscience congratulates us is a tribute that we can at any tine exact with confidence; but the celebration of those which we only feign, or desire without any vigorous endeavours to attain them, is received as a confession of sovereignty over regions never conquered, as a favourable decision of disputable claims, and is more welcome as more gratuitous.

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

No evil is insupportable but that which is accompanied with consciousness of wrong.