Advice is seldom welcome. Those who need it most, like it least.

Man is a transitory being, and his designs must partake of the imperfections of their author. To confer duration is not always in our power. We must snatch the present moment, and employ it well, without too much solicitude for the future, and content ourselves with reflecting that our part is performed. He that waits for an opportunity to do much at once, may breathe out his life in idle wishes, and regret, in the last hour, his useless intentions and barren zeal.

Wine makes a man better pleased with himself. I do not say that it makes him more pleasing to others.

Whoever desires, for his writings or himself, what none can reasonably contemn, the favour of mankind, must add grace to strength, and make his thoughts agreeable as well as useful. Many complain of neglect who never tried to attract regard.

Nothing is more idle than to inquire after happiness, which nature has kindly placed within our reach.

One of the aged greatest miseries is that they cannot easily find a companion able to share the memories of the past.

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