So long as a man rides his hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King’s highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him – pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?
Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.
Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.
When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage – that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.
Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine, the life, the soul of reading! Take them out and one cold eternal winter would reign in every page. Restore them to the writer – he steps forth like a bridegroom, bids them all-hail, brings in variety and forbids the appetite to fail.
The best hearts are ever the bravest.
The histories of the lives and fortunes of men are full of instances of this nature, – where favorable times and lucky accidents have done for them, what wisdom or skill could not.
We are born to trouble; and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.
An English man does not travel to see English men.
I write the first sentence and trust in God for the next.
If thou art rich, then show the greatness of thy fortune; or what is better, the greatness of thy soul, in the meekness of thy conversation; condescend to men of low estate, support the distressed, and patronize the neglected. Be great.
Only the brave know how to forgive; it is the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at.
In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.
Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.
An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.
Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.
Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.
When a man gives himself up to the government of a ruling passion, – or, in other words, when his HOBBY-HORSE grows head- strong, – farewell cool reason and fair discretion.
One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct.