It is not uncommon to charge the difference between promise and performance, between profession and reality, upon deep design and studied deceit; but the truth is, that there is very little hypocrisy in the world.

If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary, be not idle.

Were it not for imagination a man would be as happy in the arms of a chambermaid as of a duchess.

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.

Every man's affairs, however little, are important to himself.

There is certainly no greater happiness than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed, to trace our own progress in existence, by such tokens as excite neither shame nor sorrow.

The Irish are a fair people; they never speak well of one another.

A man who has not been in Italy is always conscious of an inferiority.

A desire of knowledge is the natural feeling of mankind; and every human being, whose mind is not debauched, will be willing to give all that he has to get knowledge.

All knowledge is of itself of some value. There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable, that I would not rather know it than not.