To hear complaints with patience, even when complaints are vain, is one of the duties of friendship.

If one was to think constantly of death, the business of life would stand still

Unintelligible language is a lantern without a light.

Time is, of all modes of existence, most obsequious to the imagination.

Every man speaks and writes with intent to be understood; and it can seldom happen but he that understands himself, might convey his notions to another, if, content to be understood, he did not seek to be admired; but when once he begins to contrive how his sentiments may be received, not with most ease to his reader, but with most advantage to himself, he then transfers his consideration from words to sounds, from sentences to periods, and, as he grows more elegant, becomes less intelligible.

Nature makes us poor only when we want necessaries, but custom gives the name of poverty to the want of superfluities.

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.