“Good writers will, indeed, do well to imitate the ingenious traveller, who always proportions his stay in any place.”

Good-humor will even go so far as often to supply the lack of wit.

In a debate, rather pull to pieces the argument of thy antagonists than offer him any of thy own; for thus thou wilt fight him in his own country.

When mighty roast beef was the Englishman’s food It ennobled our hearts and enriched our blood– Our soldiers were brave and our courtiers were good. Oh! the roast beef of England. And Old England’s roast beef.

Love may be likened to a disease in this respect, that when it is denied a vent in one part, it will certainly break out in another; hence what a woman’s lips often conceal, her eyes, her blushes, and many little involuntary actions betray.

What a silly fellow must he be who would do the devil’s work for free.

Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.

Custom may lead a man into many errors; but it justifies none.

However exquisitely human nature may have been described by writers, the true practical system can be learned only in the world.

There are two considerations which always imbitter the heart of an avaricious man–the one is a perpetual thirst after more riches, the other the prospect of leaving what he has already acquired.

We are as liable to be corrupted by books, as by companions.

Giving comfort under affliction requires that penetration into the human mind, joined to that experience which knows how to soothe, how to reason, and how to ridicule; taking the utmost care never to apply those arts improperly.

Make money your god, and it will plague you like the devil.

I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given need ask no more.

Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.

When I mention religion I mean the Christian religion; and not only the Christian religion, but the Protestant religion; and not only the Protestant religion, but the Church of England.

The slander of some people is as great a recommendation as the praise of others.

I think it’s sort of a rite of passage for a British actor to try and get the American accent and have a good crack at doing that.

It is my intent to beget a good understanding between the chymists and the mechanical philosophers who have hitherto been too little acquainted with one another’s learning.

The most indespensible ingredient of all good home cooking: love for those you are cooking for.

I never thought of myself as being handsome or good-looking or whatever.

Nothing more aggravates ill success than the near approach of good.

I hate a liar. Maybe because I’m such a good one myself, heh? Anyway, to find someone has told an out and out lie puts him on the other side of the fence from me for all time.

We have to make good use of the time we have. That simple. We have to wake up every day, knowing that it’s not just an ordinary day. We have to take the moment, seize each day.

If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about.