Sir, he throws away his money without thought and without merit. I do not call a tree generous that sheds its fruit at every breeze.

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England.

Applause abates diligence.

Consultation and compliance can conduce little to the perfection of any literary performance; for whoever is so doubtful of his own abilities as to encourage the remarks of others, will find himself every day embarrassed with new difficulties, and will harass his mind, in vain, with the hopeless labour of uniting heterogeneous ideas, digesting independent hints, and collecting into one point the several rays of borrowed light, emitted often with contrary directions.

This man [Chesterfield], I thought, had been a Lord among wits; but I find he is only a wit among Lords.

It is our first duty to serve society, and after we have done that, we may attend wholly to the salvation of our own souls.

Every class of society has its cant of lamentation, which is understood or regarded by none but themselves; and every part of life has its uneasiness, which those who do not feel them will not commiserate. An event which spreads distraction over half the commercial world, assembles the trading companies in councils and committees, and shakes the nerves of a thousand stockjobbers, is read by the landlord and the farmer with frigid indifference.