Providence has fixed the limits of human enjoyment by immovable boundaries, and has set different gratifications at such a distance from each other, that no art or power can bring them together. This great law it is the business of every rational being to understand, that life may not pass away in an attempt to make contradictions consistent, to combine opposite qualities, and to unite things which the nature of their being must always keep asunder.

Every man naturally persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, nor is he convinced of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment.

The purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criticism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown aside

Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance.

Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

I believe it will be found that those who marry late are best pleased with their children; and those who marry early, with their partners.

Pain and disease awaken us to convictions which are necessary to our moral condition.