For life affords no higher pleasure, than that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one step of success to another, forming new wishes and seeing them gratified. He that labours in any great or laudable undertaking, has his fatigues first supported by hope, and afterwards rewarded by joy... To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity.

If you want to be a writer, then write. Write every day!

Do not discourage your children from hoarding, if they have a taste to it; whoever lays up his penny rather than part with it for a cake, at least is not the slave of gross appetite; and shows besides a preference always to be esteemed, of the future to the present moment.

Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.

Few moments are more pleasing than those in which the mind is concerting measures for a new undertaking.

There is no being so poor and so contemptible, who does not think there is somebody still poorer, and still more contemptible.

I believe it will be found that those who marry late are best pleased with their children; and those who marry early, with their partners.