He that dies before sixty, of a cold or consumption, dies, in reality, by a violent death.
Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. For charity doth not adopt the vices of its objects.
It is an error common to many to take the character of mankind from the worst and basest amongst them; whereas, as an excellent writer has observed, nothing should be esteemed as characteristical, of a species but what is to be found amongst the best and the most perfect individuals of that species.
Nothing can be so quick and sudden as the operations of the mind, especially when hope, or fear, or jealousy, to which the other two are but journeymen, set it to work.
We should not be too hasty in bestowing either our praise or censure on mankind, since we shall often find such a mixture of good and evil in the same character, that it may require a very accurate judgment and a very elaborate inquiry to determine on which side the balance turns.
It is a trite but true definition that examples work more forcibly on the mind than precepts.
Wine and youth are fire upon fire.
Yes, I had two strings to my bow; both golden ones, egad! and both cracked.
The blackest ink of fate are sure my lot, And when fate writ my name it made a blot.
For parents to restrain the inclinations of their children in marriage is an usurped power.
Handsome is that handsome does.
Thy modesty ’s a candle to thy merit.
When I mention religion I mean the Christian religion; and not only the Christian religion, but the Protestant religion; and not only the Protestant religion, but the Church of England.
To the composition of novels and romances, nothing is necessary but paper, pens, and ink, with the manual capacity of using them.
Never trust the man who has reason to suspect that you know he has injured you.
He in a few minutes ravished this fair creature, or at least would have ravished her, if she had not, by a timely compliance, prevented him.
Let no man be sorry he has done good, because others concerned with him have done evil! If a man has acted right, he has done well, though along; if wrong, the sanction of all mankind will not justify him.
What is commonly called love, namely the desire of satisfying a voracious appetite with a certain quantity of delicate white human flesh.
There’s one fool at least in every married couple.
Thwackum was for doing justice, and leaving mercy to heaven.