In his comic scenes, Shakespeare seems to produce, without labor, what no labor can improve.

There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer: Why do you and I exist? Why was this world created? Since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner?

Never speak of a man in his own presence. It is always indelicate, and may be offensive .

Example is always more efficacious than precept.

It seems not more reasonable to leave the right of printing unrestrained, because writers may be afterwards censured, than it would be to sleep with doors unbolted, because by our laws we can hang a thief.

Of many, imagined blessings it may be doubted whether he that wants or possesses them had more reason to be satisfied with his lot.

Almost all the moral good which is left among us is the apparent effect of physical evil.