But let not those worthy young women, who may think themselves destined to a single life, repine over-much at their lot; since, possibly, if they have had no lovers, or having had one, two, or three, have not found a husband, they have had rather a miss than a loss, as men go.

Married people should not be quick to hear what is said by either when in ill humor.

All human excellence is but comparative — there are persons who excel us, as much as we fancy we excel the meanest.

A widow's refusal of a lover is seldom so explicit as to exclude hope.

What a world is this! What is there in it desirable? The good we hope for so strangely mixed, that one knows not what to wish for!And one half of mankind tormenting the other, and being tormented themselves in tormenting!

What likelihood is there of corrupting a man who has no ambition.

Marriage is a state that is attended with so much care and trouble, that it is a kind of faulty indulgence and selfishness to livesingle, in order to avoid the difficulties it is attended with.