Life is barren enough surely with all her trappings; let us be therefore cautious of how we strip her.

What we read with inclination makes a much stronger impression. If we read without inclination, half the mind is employed in fixing the attention; so there is but one half to be employed on what we read.

He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.

Idleness is often covered by turbulence and hurry. He that neglects his known duty and real employment naturally endeavours to crowd his mind with something that may bar out the remembrance of his own folly, and does any thing but what he ought to do with eager diligence, that he may keep himself in his own favour.

If we will have the kindness of others, we must endure their follies.

Sir, you must not neglect doing a thing immediately good from fear of remote evil; -from fear of its being abused.

We are long before we are convinced that happiness is never to be found, and each believes it possessed by others, to keep alive the hope of obtaining it for himself.

It is necessary to hope... for hope itself is happiness.

Good sense alone is a sedate and quiescent quality, which manages its possessions well, but does not increase them; it collects few materials for its own operations, and preserves safety, but never gains supremacy.