"There are few things that we so unwillingly give up, even in advanced age, as the supposition that we still have the power of ingratiating ourselves with the fair sex."
"Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it."
"There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible."
"He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts."
"If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man, sir, should keep his friendship in a constant repair."
"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern."
"Subordination tends greatly to human happiness. Were we all upon an equality, we should have no other enjoyment than mere animal pleasure."
"Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult."
"I would not give half a guinea to live under one form of government other than another. It is of no moment to the happiness of an individual."
"Man alone is born crying, lives complaining, and dies disappointed."
"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it."
"It is better that some should be unhappy rather than that none should be happy, which would be the case in a general state of equality."
"The return of my birthday, if I remember it, fills me with thoughts which it seems to be the general care of humanity to escape."
