Great Pompey’s shade complains that we are slow, And Scipio’s ghost walks unaveng’d amongst us!
The transition from cause to effect, from event to event, is often carried on by secret steps, which our foresight cannot divine, and our sagacity is unable to trace.
For ever singing as they shine, The hand that made us is divine.
Cleanliness may be defined to be the emblem of purity of mind.
Heaven is not to be looked upon only as the reward, but the natural effect, of a religious life.
Unbounded courage and compassion join’d, Tempering each other in the victor’s mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.
A man that has a taste of music, painting, or architecture, is like one that has another sense, when compared with such as have no relish of those arts.
I think a Person who is thus terrified with the Imagination of Ghosts and Spectres much more reasonable, than one who contrary to the Reports of all Historians sacred and profane, ancient and modern, and to the Traditions of all Nations, thinks the Appearance of Spirits fabulous and groundless.
There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.
A cheerful temper, joined with innocence will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit good-natured.
Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind.
We make provisions for this life as if it were never to have an end, and for the other life as though it were never to have a beginning.
No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.
The Gods in bounty work up storms about us, that give mankind occasion to exert their hidden strength, and throw our into practice virtues that shun the day, and lie concealed in the smooth seasons and the calms of life.
A good disposition is more valuable than gold, for the latter is the gift of fortune, but the former is the dower of nature.
The woman that deliberates is lost.
Husband a lie, and trump it up in some extraordinary emergency.
Blesses his stars and thinks it luxury.
I think I may define taste to be that faculty of the soul which discerns the beauties of an author with pleasure, and the imperfections with dislike.
But in all despotic governments, though a particular prince may favour arts and letter, there is a natural degeneracy of mankind.