Every man has a lurking wish to appear considerable in his native place.

People may be taken in once, who imagine that an author is greater in private life than other men.

Since every man is obliged to promote happiness and virtue, he should be careful not to mislead unwary minds, by appearing to set too high a value upon things by which no real excellence is conferred.

In civilized society we all depend upon each other, and our happiness is very much owing to the good opinion of mankind.

Life, to be worthy of a rational being, must be always in progression; we must always purpose to do more or better than in time past.

No writer can be fully convicted of imitation except there is a concurrence of more resemblance than can be imagined to have happened by chance; as where the same ideas are conjoined without any natural series or necessary coherence, or where not only the thought but the words are copied.

Agriculture not only gives riches to a nation, but the only riches she can call her own.