Society is a more level surface than we imagine. Wise men or absolute fools are hard to be met with, as there are few giants or dwarfs. The heaviest charge we can bring against the general texture of society is that it is commonplace. Our fancied superiority to others is in some one thing which we think most of because we excel in it, or have paid most attention to it; whilst we overlook their superiority to us in something else which they set equal and exclusive store by.

Love and joy are twins or born of each other.

Honesty is one part of eloquence. We persuade others by being in earnest ourselves.

Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets.

A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means.

A grave blockhead should always go about with a lively one - they show one another off to the best advantage.

There is nothing more to be esteemed than a manly firmness and decision of character.