The character of any particular people may be looked for with best success in their national works of talent.
There is no absurdity in approving as well as condemning the same individual; for as few people are always in the right, so on the other hand it is improbable they should be always in the wrong.
The most elegant flattery is at second hand; viz., to repeat over again the praises bestowed by others.
Ignorance, simple, helpless ignorance, is not to be imputed as a fault; but very often men are wilfully ignorant.
We have fewer enemies than we imagine: many are too indolent to care at all about us, and if the stream of censure is running against us, the world is too careless to oppose it. If we could hear what is said of us in our absence we should torment ourselves without real cause, for we should seldom hear the real sentiments of the speaker; many things are said in mere wantonness, and many more from the desire of being brilliant.
The man who feels he is in the right is seldom dogmatical, for truth is always calm and requires not violence to enforce her arguments: we should desist from the contest the moment we feel anxious about victory, because that anxiety must make us less particular about the truth.
Quickness of intellect is no proof of solidity: the deepest rivers flow on the smoothest.
The reason why there are so few instances of heroism in modern times is the total decay of political virtue: we are broken up into small parties and associate only with our families, thus forgetting the public, in our regard for private interest: the ancients were taught rather to live for the benefit of the whole community.
An over-refined philosophy begets sensitiveness, and is as little to be coveted as a moderate share of it is beneficial.
It seems to be the business of life to lay by fresh cause for anxiety and discontent by increasing our estate; whereas we should rather know how to lose it all, and yet be contented.