A good deal of philanthropy arises in general from mere vanity and love of distinction gilded over to others and to themselves with some show of benevolent sentiment.

A Finnan haddock has a relish of a peculiar and delicate flavour, inimitable on any other coast than that of Aberdeenshire. Some of our Edinburgh philosophers tried to produce their equal in vain. I was one of a party at dinner where the philosophical haddocks were placed in competition with the genuine Finnan fish. These were served round without distinguishing whence they came; but only one gentleman out of twelve present espoused the cause of philosophy.

If a farmer fills his barn with grain, he gets mice. If he leaves it empty, he gets actors.

Wounds sustained for the sake of conscience carry their own balsam with the blow.

A glass of good wine is a gracious creature, and reconciles poor mortality to itself and that is what few things can do.

The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me?

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.