He that compares what he has done with what he has left undone, will feel the effect which must always follow the comparison of imagination with reality; he will look with contempt on his own unimportance, and wonder to what purpose he came into the world; he will repine that he shall leave behind him no evidence of his having been, that he has added nothing to the system of life, but has glided from youth to age among the crowd, without any effort for distinction.

Those writers who lie on the watch for novelty can have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.

Guilt once harbored in the conscious breast, intimidates the brave, degrades the great.

When two Eglishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather.

As to precedents, to be sure they will increase in course of time; but the more precedents there are, the less occasion is there for law; that is to say, the less occasion is there for investigating principles.

Cunning has effect from the credulity of others, rather than from the abilities of those who are cunning. It requires no extraordinary talents to lie and deceive.

That we must all die, we always knew, I wish I had sooner remembred it.