Life and death appear more certainly ours than whatsoever else: and yet hardly can that be called ours, which comes without our knowledge, and goes without it.

If there were no falsehood in the world, there would be no doubt, if there were no doubt, there would be no inquiry; if no inquiry, no wisdom, no knowledge, no genius; and Fancy herself would lie muffled up in her robe, inactive, pale, and bloated.

The moderate are not usually the most sincere, for the same circumspection which makes them moderate makes them likewise retentive of what could give offense.

Modesty and diffidence make a man unfit for public affairs; they also make him unfit for brothels.

I warmed both hands before the fire of life; It sinks, and I am ready to depart.

All schools of philosophy, and almost all authors, are rather to be frequented for exercise than for weight.

The vain poet is of the opinion that nothing of his can be too much: he sends to you basketful after basketful of juiceless fruit, covered with scentless flowers.

Prose on certain occasions can bear a great deal of poetry; on the other hand, poetry sinks and swoons under a moderate weight of prose.

We cannot at once catch the applauses of the vulgar and expect the approbation of the wise.

The deafest man can hear praise, and is slow to think any an excess.