Two evils, of almost equal weight, may befall the man of erudition; never to be listened to, and to be listened to always.

When a woman hath ceased to be quite the same to us, it matters little how different she becomes.

Prose on certain occasions can bear a great deal of poetry; on the other hand, poetry sinks and swoons under a moderate weight of prose.

Absurdities are great or small in proportion to custom or insuetude.

The only effect of public punishment is to show the rabble how bravely it can be borne; and that every one who hath lost a toe-nail hath suffered worse.

No ashes are lighter than those of incense, and few things burn out sooner.

Principles do not mainly influence even the principled; we talk on principle, but we act on interest.