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.

Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own.

The art of the writer, like that of the player, is attained by slow degrees. The power of distinguishing and discriminating comick characters, or of filling tragedy with poetical images, must be the gift of nature, which no instruction nor labour can supply; but the art of dramatick disposition, the contexture of the scenes, the involution of the plot, the expedients of suspension, and the strategems of surprise, are to be learned by practice.

Dogs have not the power of comparing. A dog will take a small piece of meat as readily as a large, when both are before him.

A quibble is to Shakespeare what luminous vapours are to the traveller: he follows it at all adventures; it is sure to lead him out of his way and sure to engulf him in the mire.

The misery of man proceeds not from any single crush of overwhelming evil, but from small vexations continually repeated.

Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, roll darkly down the torrent of his fate.