Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.

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

We frequently fall into error and folly, not because the true principles of action are not known, but because for a time they are not remembered; he may, therefore, justly be numbered among the benefactors of mankind who contracts the great rules of life into short sentences that may early be impressed on the memory, and taught by frequent recollection to occur habitually to the mind.

We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.

Tediousness is the most fatal of all faults.

The roads of science are narrow, so that they who travel them, must wither follow or meet one another.

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.