Even those to whom Providence has allotted greater strength of understanding can expect only to improve a single science.

They that have grown old in a single state are generally found to be morose, fretful and captious; tenacious of their own practices and maxims; soon offended by contradiction or negligence; and impatient of any association but with those that will watch their nod, and submit themselves to unlimited authority.

It is however, reasonable, to have perfection in our eye; that we may always advance towards it, though we know it never can be reached.

In proportion as our cares are employed upon the future, they are abstracted from the present, from the only time which we can call our own, and of which, if we neglect the apparent duties to make provision against visionary attacks, we shall certainly counteract our own purpose.

The business of a poet is to examine not the individual but the species; to remark general properties and large appearances.

This was a good dinner enough, to be sure, but it was not a dinner to ask a man to.

Much may be made of a Scotchman, if he be caught young.