People seldom read a book which is given to them; and few are given. The way to spread a work is to sell it at a low price. No man will send to buy a thing that costs even sixpence without an intention to read it.
It is in refinement and elegance that the civilized man differs from the savage.
The duties of religion, sincerely and regularly performed, will always be sufficient to exalt the meanest and to exercise the highest understanding.
When a man feel the reprehension of a friend seconded by his own heart, he is easily heated into resentment.
Resentment gratifies him who intended an injury, and pains him unjustly who did not intend it.
Resentment is a union of sorrow with malignity; a combination of a passion which all endeavor to avoid with a passion which all concur to detest.
Men who could willingly resign the luxuries and sensual pleasures of a large fortune cannot consent to live without the grandeur and the homage.
Of riches it is not necessary to write the praise. Let it, however, be remembered that he who has money to spare has it always in his power to benefit others, and of such power a good man must always be desirous.
Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.
Riches exclude only one inconvenience, – that is, poverty.
Riches, perhaps, do not so often produce crimes as incite accusers.
Such is the uncertainty of human affairs, that security and despair are equal follies; and as it is presumption and arrogance to anticipate triumphs, it is weakness and cowardice to prog-nosticate miscarriages.
Whatever advantage we snatch beyond a certain portion allotted us by at nature, is like money spent before it is due, which, at the time of regular payment, will be missed and regretted.
Beauty, without kindness, dies unenjoyed and undelighting.
There is no book so poor that it would not be a prodigy if wholly made by a single man.
Care that is once enter’d into the breast Will have the whole possession ere it rest.
Scarce any man becomes eminently disagreeable but by a departure from his real character, and an attempt at something for which nature or education has left him unqualified.
The peculiar doctrine of Christianity is that of a universal sacrifice and perpetual propitiation.
All truth is valuable, and satirical criticism may be considered as useful when it rectifies error and improves judgment; he that refines the public taste is a public benefactor.
Sir, there is no end of negative criticism.