Men who have flattered themselves into this opinion of their own abilities, look down on all who waste their lives over books, as a race of inferior beings condemned by nature to perpetual pupilage, and fruitlessly endeavouring to remedy their barrenness by incessant cultivation, or succour their feebleness by subsidiary strength. They presume that none would be more industrious than they, if they were not more sensible of deficiences; and readily conclude, that he who places no confidence in his own powers owes his modesty only to his weakness.

Whatever is proposed, it is much easier to find reasons for rejecting than embracing.

Life is barren enough surely with all her trappings; let us be therefore cautious of how we strip her.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

What is the reason that women servants ... have much lower wages than men servants ... when in fact our female house servants work much harder than the male?

Books to judicious compilers, are useful; to particular arts and professions, they are absolutely necessary; to men of real science, they are tools: but more are tools to them.