Kings should disdain to die, and only disappear.

It is one of the misfortunes in life that one must read thousands of books only to discover that one need not have read them.

here was the secret of happiness, about which philosophers had disputed for so many ages, at once discovered; happiness might now be bought for a penny, and carried in the waistcoat-pocket; portable ecstasies might be had corked up in a pint-bottle; and peace of mind could be sent down by the mail.

Nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium: its pleasures even are of a grave and solemn complexion.

In many walks of life, a conscience is a more expensive encumbrance than a wife or a carriage.

Grief! thou art classed amongst the depressing passions. And true it is that thou humblest to the dust, but also thou exaltest to the clouds. Thou shakest us with ague, but also thou steadiest like frost. Thou sickenest the heart, but also thou healest its infirmities.

The pulpit style of Germany has been always rustically negligent, or bristling with pedantry.