Rain is good for vegetables, and for the animals who eat those vegetables, and for the animals who eat those animals.

Among the innumerable mortifications which waylay human arrogance on every side may well be reckoned our ignorance of the most common objects and effects, a defect of which we become more sensible by every attempt to supply it. Vulgar and inactive minds confound familiarity with knowledge and conceive themselves informed of the whole nature of things when they are shown their form or told their use; but the speculatist, who is not content with superficial views, harasses himself with fruitless curiosity, and still, as he inquires more, perceives only that he knows less.

The love of fame is a passion natural and universal, which no man, however high or mean, however wise or ignorant, was yet able to despise.

Small debts are like small shot; they are rattling on every side, and can scarcely be escaped without a wound: great debts are like cannon; of loud noise, but little danger.

I had rather see the portrait of a dog that I know, than all the allegorical paintings they can show me in the world.

Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty.

The world is not yet exhausted: let me see something tomorrow which I never saw before.