Tis this desire of bending all things to our own purposes which turns them into confusion and is the chief source of every error in our lives.

I am none of those nonsensical fools that can whine and make romantic love--I leave that to younger brothers. Let my estate speakfor me.

I often used to think myself in the case of the fox-hunter, who, when he had toiled and sweated all day in the chase as if some unheard-of blessing was to crown his success, finds at last all he has got by his labor is a stinking nauseous animal. But my condition was yet worse than his; for he leaves the loathsome wretch to be torn by his hounds, whilst I was obliged to fondle mine, and meanly pretend him to be the object of my love.

The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.

If modesty and candor are necessary to an author in his judgment of his own works, no less are they in his reader.

The motives to actions and the inward turns of mind seem in our opinion more necessary to be known than the actions themselves; and much rather would we choose that our reader should clearly understand what our principal actors think than what they do.

Tis this desire of bending all things to our own purposes which turns them into confusion and is the chief source of every error in our lives.