Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.
~ in Rasselas
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
~ in a letter to the Earl of Chesterfield, April 7, 1775
Sir, a woman’s preaching is like a dog’s walking on his hind legs. It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all.
~ in a letter to the Earl of Chesterfield, July 31, 1763
I deny the lawfulness of telling a lie to a sick man for fear of alarming him; you have no business with consequences you are to tell the truth.
Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.
One of the disadvantages of wine is that it makes a man mistake words for thoughts.
Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.
Round numbers are always false.
The only end of writing is to enable the readers better to enjoy life or better to endure it.
