The authors that in any nation last from age to age are very few, because there are very few that have any other claim to notice than that they catch hold on present curiosity, and gratify some accidental desire, or produce some temporary conveniency.

A thousand years may elapse before there shall appear another man with a power of versification equal to that of Pope.

The great source of pleasure is variety.

To let friendship die away by negligence and silence is certainly not wise. It is voluntarily to throw away one of the greatest comforts of the weary pilgrimage.

Moderation is commonly firm, and firmness is commonly successful.

There are in every age new errors to be rectified and new prejudices to be opposed.

This is my history; like all other histories, a narrative of misery.