A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide, and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity.

In the power of fixing the attention lies the most precious of the intellectual habits.

In matters of conscience, first thoughts are best. In matters of prudence, last thoughts are best.

Call things by their right names - Glass of brandy and water! That is the current, but not the appropriate name; ask for a glass of liquid fire and distilled damnation.

We should be more anxious that our afflictions should benefit us than that they should be speedily removed from us.

Call things by their right names . . . Glass of brandy and water! That is the current, but not the appropriate name; ask for a glass of liquid fire and distilled damnation.