I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world.

Perhaps man is the only being that can properly be called idle.

The parallel circumstances and kindred images to which we readily conform our minds are, above all other writings, to be found in the lives of particular persons, and therefore no species of writing seems more worthy of cultivation than biography.

To tell of disappointment and misery, to thicken the darkness of futurity, and perplex the labyrinth of uncertainty, has been always a delicious employment of the poets

Their origin is commonly unknown; for the practice often continues when the cause has ceased, and concerning superstitious ceremonies it is in vain to conjecture; for what reason did not dictate, reason cannot explain.

Truth allows no choice.

We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often differ from ourselves.