A man that is ashamed of passions that are natural and reasonable, is generally proud of those that are shameful and silly.

Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.

I despise the pleasure of pleasing people that I despise.

I don't say 'Tis impossible for an impudent man not to rise in the world, but a moderate merit with a large share of impudence is more probable to be advanced than the greatest qualifications without it.

I prefer liberty to chains of diamonds.

It is surprising what money I have spent out of a principle of economy; because they are cheap I have bought more shoes than a millipede could wear in seven years.

Nature has not placed us in an inferior rank to men, no more than the females of other animals, where we see no distinction of capacity, though I am persuaded if there was a commonwealth of rational horses... it would be an established maxim amongst them that a mare could not be taught to pace.

No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting.

No modest man ever did or ever will make a fortune.

People commonly educate their children as they build their houses, according to some plan they think beautiful, without considering whether it is suited to the purposes for which they are designed.

Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Would with a touch that's scarcely felt or seen.

Writers of novels and romance in general bring a double loss to their readers; robbing them of their time and money; representing men, manners, and things, that never have been, or are likely to be.