In prosperous times I have sometimes felt my fancy and powers of language flag, but adversity is to me at least a tonic and bracer.

Look at a gown of gold, and you will at least get a sleeve of it.

A few drops sprinkled on the torch of love make the flame blaze the brighter.

He hath a share of man's intelligence, but no share of man's falsehood.

Dear to me is my bonnie white steed; Oft has he helped me at pinch of need.

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.

Greatness of any kind has no greater foe than a habit of drinking.