We may have uneasy feelings for seeing a creature in distress without pity; for we have not pity unless we wish to relieve them.

Courage is a quality so necessary for maintaining virtue, that it is always respected, even when it is associated with vice.

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

The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.

Gayety is to good-humor as perfumes to vegetable fragrance: the one overpowers weak spirits; the other recreates and revives them.

A continual feast of commendation is only to be obtained by merit or by wealth: many are therefore obliged to content themselves with single morsels, and recompense the infrequency of their enjoyment by excess and riot, whenever fortune sets the banquet before them.

Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections their author.