Babies do not want to hear about babies; they like to be told of giants and castles.

It is indeed certain, that whoever attempts any common topick, will find unexpected coincidences of his thoughts with those of other writers; nor can the nicest judgment always distinguish accidental similitude from artful imitation.

Religion informs us that misery and sin were produced together. The depravation of human will was followed by a disorder of the harmony of nature; and by that Providence which often places antidotes in the neighborhood of poisons, vice was checked by misery, lest it should swell to universal and unlimited dominion.

By forbearing to do what may innocently be done, we may add hourly new vigor to resolution.

Of riches it is not necessary to write the praise. Let it, however, be remembered that he who has money to spare has it always in his power to benefit others, and of such power a good man must always be desirous.

Prejudice, not being founded on reason, cannot be removed by argument.

Scarcely any degree of judgment is sufficient to restrain the imagination from magnifying that on which it is long detained