Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own.

The common people do not accurately adapt their thoughts to objects; nor, secondly, do they accurately adapt their words to their thoughts; they do not mean to lie; but, taking no pains to be exact, they give you very false accounts. A great part of their language is proverbial; if anything rocks at all, they say it rocks like a cradle; and in this way they go on.

Truth, such as is necessary to the reputation of life, is always found where it is honestly sought.

Claret is the liquor for boys; port for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy.

To a people warlike and indigent, an incursion into a rich country is never hurtful.

Novelty is indeed necessary to preserve eagerness and alacrity; but art and nature have stores inexhaustible by human intellects, and every moment produces something new to him who has quickened his faculties by diligent observation.

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