Admiration must be continued by that novelty which first produces it; and how much soever is given, there must always be reason to imagine that more remains.

The longer we live the more we think and the higher the value we put on friendship and tenderness towards parents and friends.

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.

A successful author is equally in danger of the diminution of his fame, whether he continues or ceases to write.

To keep your secret is wisdom; but to expect others to keep it is folly.

My diseases are an asthma and a dropsy and, what is less curable, seventy-five.

These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich, as their country is impoverished; they rejoice, when obstinacy or ambition adds another year to slaughter and devastation; and laugh, from their desks, at bravery and science, while they are adding figure to figure, and cipher to cipher, hoping for a new contract from a new armament, and computing the profits of a siege or tempest.