“But alas! my Lord, what is blood! what is nobility! We are all reptiles, miserable, sinful creatures. It is piety alone that can distinguish us from the dust whence we sprung, and whither we must return.”

“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not. A sense of humour was provided to console him for what he is.”

“I can forget injuries, but never benefits.”

“The gentle maid, whose hapless tale,these melancholy pages speak;say, gracious lady, shall she failTo draw the tear a down from thy cheek?”

“In science, mistakes always precede the truth.”

“When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.”

“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.”