The worst old age is that of the mind.

The measure of any man's virtue is what he would do, if he had neither the laws nor public opinion, nor even his own prejudices, to control him.

Life is the art of being well deceived; and in order that the deception may succeed it must be habitual and uninterrupted.

As a general rule, those who are dissatisfied with themselves will seek to go out of themselves into an ideal world. Persons in strong health and spirits, who take plenty of air and exercise, who are "in favor with, their stars," and have a thorough relish of the good things of this life, seldom devote themselves in despair to religion or the muses. Sedentary, nervous, hypochondriacal people, on the contrary, are forced, for want of an appetite for the real and substantial, to look out for a more airy food and speculative comforts.

The person whose doors I enter with most pleasure, and quit with most regret, never did me the smallest favor.

We must be doing something to be happy.

Some people break promises for the pleasure of breaking them.