People in general do not willingly read if they have anything else to amuse them.

Philosophers there are who try to make themselves believe that this life is happy; but they believe it only while they are saying it, and never yet produced conviction in a single mind.

When once the forms of civility are violated, there remains little hope of return to kindness or decency.

Tears are often to be found where there is little sorrow, and the deepest sorrow without any tears.

Of all noises, I think music is the least disagreeable.

We often look with indifference on the successive parts of something that, if the whole were seen together, would shake us with emotion.

Keeping accounts, sir, is of no use when a man is spending his own money, and has nobody to whom he is to account. You won't eat less beef today because you have written down what it cost yesterday.