There seems to be a strange affectation in authors of appearing to have done everything by chance.

No man should attempt to teach others what he has never learned himself

The mental disease of the present generation is impatience of study, contempt of the great masters of ancient wisdom, and a disposition to rely wholly upon unassisted genius and natural sagacity.

Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.

If I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty woman.

Men are like stone jugs - you may lug them where you like by the ears.

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.