“This not in mortals to command success, but we’ll do more, Sempronius, we’ll deserve it.”

The only way therefore to try a Piece of Wit, is to translate it into a different Language: If it bears the Test you may pronounceit true; but if it vanishes in the Experiment you may conclude it to have been a Punn.

Whether this happens because they stay so long and attend their work so diligently that they forget the faces and persons, which they first sat down with, or whatever it is, they seldom rise from the toilet the same woman they appeared when they began to dress

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

Antidotes are what you take to prevent dotes.

I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind.

Love is a second life; it grows into the soul, warms every vein, and beats in every pulse.

Temperance gives nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigor.

Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes.

When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.

The friendships of the world are oft confederacies in vice, or leagues of pleasures.

All well-regulated families set apart an hour every morning for tea and bread and butter

A solid and substantial greatness of soul looks down with neglect on the censures and applauses of the multitude.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.

A good character, good habits and iron industry are impregnable to the assaults of all ill-luck that fools ever dreamed.

It is ridiculous for any man to criticize on the works of another, who has not distinguished himself by his own performances.

The purpose of life is to obey the hidden command which ensures harmony among all and creates an ever better world.

Once the command of the air is obtained by one of the contending armies, the war becomes a conflict between a seeing host and one that is blind.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.

Man is made to adore and to obey: but if you will not command him, if you give him nothing to worship, he will fashion his own divinities, and find a chieftain in his own passions.

Seduction is always more singular and sublime than sex and it commands the higher price.

Since God had commanded it, it was necessary that I do it. Since God commanded it, even if I had a hundred fathers and mothers, even if I had been a King’s daughter,

I did not take this dress or do anything but by the command of Our Lord and of the Angels.

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.