People who live together naturally catch the looks and air of one another and without having one feature alike, they contract a something in the whole countenance which strikes one as a resemblance.

The mind is but too naturally prone to pleasure, but too easily yielded to dissipation.

We continually say things to support an opinion, which we have given, that in reality we don't above half mean.

I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling.

There is something in age that ever, even in its own despite, must be venerable, must create respect and to have it ill treated, is to me worse, more cruel and wicked than anything on earth.

Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.