We are all of us, more or less, the slaves of opinion.

Reflection makes men cowards.

It is a false principle that because we are entirely occupied with ourselves, we must equally occupy the thoughts of others. The contrary inference is the fair one.

People do not persist in their vices because they are not weary of them, but because they cannot leave them off. It is the nature of vice to leave us no resource but in itself.

The greatest pleasure in life is that of reading while we are young. I have had as much of this pleasure perhaps as any one.

Humour is the making others act or talk absurdly and unconsciously; wit is the pointing out and ridiculing that absurdity consciously, and with more or less ill-nature.

Death is the greatest evil, because it cuts off hope.