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

It seems to be remarkable that death increases our veneration for the good, and extenuates our hatred for the bad.

There is such a difference between the pursuits of men in great cities that one part of the inhabitants lives to little other purpose than to wonder at the rest. Some have hopes and fears, wishes and aversions, which never enter into the thoughts of others, and inquiry is laboriously exerted to gain that which those who possess it are ready to throw away.

Remember that nothing will supply the want of prudence, and that negligence and irregularity long continued will make knowledge useless, wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible.

A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company

Inquiries into the heart are not for man.

An epithet or metaphor drawn from nature ennobles art; an epithet or metaphor drawn from art degrades nature.