One of the disadvantages of wine is that is makes a man mistake words for thoughts.
Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.
I know not why any one but a schoolboy in his declamation should whine over the Commonwealth of Rome, which grew great only by the misery of the rest of mankind. The Romans, like others, as soon as th...
Our minds, like our bodies, are in continual flux; something is hourly lost, and something acquired.
There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.
Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficu...
Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment.
I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.
Exercise is labor without weariness.
A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilisation
All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.
What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.
My dear friend, clear your mind of cant.
He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade.
The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.
Abstinence is as easy for me as temperance would be difficult.
Oats n.s. A grain which in England is generally given to horses but in Scotland supports the people.
Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.
To keep your secret is wisdom but to expect others to keep it is folly.
Treating your adversary with respect is striking soft in battle.