It is certain that success naturally confirms in us a favourable opinion of our own abilities. Scarce any man is willing to allot to accident, friendship, and a thousand causes, which concur in every event without human contrivance or interposition, the part which they may justly claim in his advancement. We rate ourselves by our fortune rather than our virtues, and exorbitant claims are quickly produced by imaginary merit.

Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections of their author. To confer duration is not always in our power. We must snatch the present moment, and employ it well, without too much solicitude for the future, and content ourselves with reflecting that our part is performed. He that waits for an opportunity to do much at once, may breathe out his life in idle wishes, and regret, in the last hour, his useless intentions and barren zeal.

Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.

There is, indeed, nothing that so much seduces reason from vigilance, as the thought of passing life with an amiable woman.

Life will not bear refinement. You must do as other people do.

The Irish are a fair people: They never speak well of one another.

Resentment gratifies him who intended an injury, and pains him unjustly who did not intend it.