Though it is evident, that not more than one age or people can deserve the censure of being more averse from learning than any other, yet at all times knowledge must have encountered impediments, and wit been mortified with contempt, or harassed with persecution.

You never find people laboring to convince you that you may live very happily upon a plentiful income.

To neglect at any time preparation for death is to sleep on our post at a siege; to omit it in old age is to sleep at an attack.

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

Diffidence may check resolution and obstruct performance, but compensates its embarrassments by more important advantages; it conciliates the proud, and softens the severe; averts envy from excellence, and censure from miscarriage.

You cannot give me an instance of any man who is permitted to lay out his own time contriving not to have tedious hours.

Everything that enlarges the sphere of human powers, that shows man he can do what he thought he could not do, is valuable.