Lo, when two dogs are fighting in the streets, With a third dog one of the two dogs meets; With angry teeth he bites him to the bone, And this dog smarts for what that dog has done.
The constant desire of pleasing which is the peculiar quality of some, may be called the happiest of all desires in this that it rarely fails of attaining its end when not disgraced by affectation.
Beauty may be the object of liking – great qualities of admiration – good ones of esteem – but love only is the object of love.
Guilt, on the contrary, like a base thief, suspects every eye that beholds him to be privy to his transgressions, and every tongue that mentions his name to be proclaiming them.
Clergy are men as well as other folks.
Every physician almost hath his favourite disease.
Sensuality not only debases both body and mind, but dulls the keen edge of pleasure.
Love may be likened to a disease in this respect, that when it is denied a vent in one part, it will certainly break out in another; hence what a woman’s lips often conceal, her eyes, her blushes, and many little involuntary actions betray.
Prudence is a duty which we owe ourselves, and if we will be so much our own enemies as to neglect it, we are not to wonder if the world is deficient in discharging their duty to us; for when a man lays the foundation of his own ruin, others too often are apt to build upon it.
Success is a fruit of slow growth.
A newspaper consists of just the same number of words, whether there be any news in it or not.
Considering the unforeseen events of this world, we should be taught that no human condition should inspire men with absolute despair.
Human life very much resembles a game of chess: for, as in the latter, while a gamester is too attentive to secure himself very strongly on one side of the board, he is apt to leave an unguarded opening on the other, so doth it often happen in life.
His designs were strictly honourable, as the phrase is; that is, to rob a lady of her fortune by way of marriage.
Petition me no petitions, sir, to-day; Let other hours be set apart for business. To-day it is our pleasure to be drunk; And this our queen shall be as drunk as we.
It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of creating many enemies.
It is with jealousy as with the gout. When such distempers are in the blood, there is never any security against their breaking out, and that often on the slightest occasions, and when least suspected.
The characteristic of coquettes is affectation governed by whim.
In the forming of female friendships beauty seldom recommends one woman to another.
An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.