"A very useful book might be written with the sole object of advising what parts of what books should be read. It should not be a book of elegant extracts, but should merely refer to the passages which are advised to be read. It might also indicate what are the chief works upon any given subject. For example, take rent; the important passages in Adam Smith, Ricardo, Jones, Mill, and other writers, should be referred to."

"The blemishes on honourable lineage are a delicate subject, and certainly this heredity we hear so much about is the finest scandalmonger in the world; it laughs at discretion, and writes strange entries between the lines of the “Peerages”."

"Boys will be boys—And even that ... wouldn't matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls."

"“The difference between you and Robert,” said my sister-in-law, who often (bless her!) speaks on a platform, and oftener still as if she were on one, “is that he recognizes the duties of his position, and you see the opportunities of yours.” “To a man of spirit, my dear Rose,” I answered, “opportunities are duties.”"

"For my part, if a man must needs be a knave, I would have him a debonair knave, and I liked Rupert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-eyed companions. It makes your sin no worse, as I conceive, to do it à la mode and stylishly."

"Lord Fancourt: Look here, am I any relation to him? Jack: No; you're Charley's Aunt, from Brazil. Lord Fancourt: Brazil! Where's that? Jack: You know–er–where the nuts come from."

"From forty till fifty a man is at heart either a stoic or a satyr."

"There is no heav'n like mutual love."

"Important truths still let your fable hold, And moral mysteries with art unfold."

"But tho' we fetch from Italy and France Our fopperies of tune, and mode of dance, Our sturdy Britons scorn to borrow sense."

"There is no vulture like despair."

"Bright as the day, and like the morning, fair, Such Cloe is—and common as the air."

"The great, the vile, the coward, and the brave, Are food alike for worms, companions in the grave. The prince and parasite together lye, No fortune can exalt, but Death will climb as high."

"Thy thoughts to nobler meditations give, And study how to die, not how to live."

"In vain we plant, we build, our stores increase, If conscience roots up all our inward peace."

"Since truth and constancy are vain, Since neither love, nor sense of pain, Nor force of reason, can persuade, Then let example be obey'd."

"'Tis impious pleasure to delight in harm. And beauty shou'd be kind, as well as charm."

"I'll be this abject thing no more, Love, give me back my heart again."

"In quiet shades, content with rural sports, Give me a life, remote from guilty courts, Where free from hopes, or fears, in humble ease, Unheard of I may live, and die in peace."

"The sun is set—but see in bright array What hosts of heav'nly light recruit the day! Love in a shining galaxy appears Triumphant still."

"But ah! what mighty magick can assuage A woman's envy, and a bigot's rage?"

"But ah! in vain from Fate we fly! For, first and last, as all must die, So 'tis as much decreed above, That, first or last, we all must love."

"Scarce hadst thou time t'unsheath thy conqu'ring blade; It did but glitter, and the rebels fled."

"So sang the syrens, with enchanting sound, Enticing all to listen and be drown'd."

"Beauty by no complexion is defin'd, Is of all colours, and to none confin'd."

"Nature indulgent, provident, and kind, In all things that excell some use design'd; The radiant sun […] Sends from above ten thousand blessings down, Nor is he set so high for show alone; His beams, reviving with auspicious fire, Freely we all enjoy what all admire. The moon and stars, those faithful guides of night, Are plac'd to help, not entertain, the sight. Plants, fruits, and flow'rs, the fertile fields produce, Not for vain ornament, but wholesome use; Health they restore, and nourishment they give, We see with pleasure, but we taste to live."

"Youth is the proper time for love, And age is virtue's season."

"Who to a woman trusts his peace of mind, Trusts a frail bark, with a tempestuous wind."

"Shall Nature, erring from her first command, Self-preservation, fall by her own hand?"

"Of all pains, the greatest pain Is to love, and love in vain."

"Love is a plant of the most tender kind, That shrinks and shakes with ev'ry ruffling wind."

"You'd see, cou'd you her inward motions watch, Feigning delay, she wishes for dispatch; Into a woman's meaning wou'd you look, Then read her backward."

"Love is a subject to himself alone, And knows no other empire than his own."

"Marriage the happiest bond of love might be, If hands were only join'd when hearts agree."

"Fate holds the strings, and men like children move But as they're led: success is from above."

"She will, and she will not, she grants, denies, Consents, retracts, advances, and then flies."

"Providence, not niggardly, but wise, Here lavishly bestows, and there denies, That by each other's virtues we may rise."

"Our present joy is sweeter by past pain, To love and heav'n, by suff'ring we attain."

"The liberal are secure alone, For what we frankly give, for ever is our own."

"So many shapes have women for deceit, That every man's a fool, when we think fit."

"Oh my lov'd friend! till now I never knew The pangs of parting friendship. At distance I have tasted of the pain, When the rude morn has sundered us away, To our repose: but by my soul, I swear Even then my eyes would drop a silent tear, Repugnant still to close, and shut out thee."

"Patience is the virtue of a beast That trots beneath his burden and is quiet."

"Cowards in scarlet pass for men of war."

"Mankind, from Adam, have been women's fools; Women, from Eve, have been the devil's tools: Heaven might have spar'd one torment when we fell; Not left us woman, or not threatened hell."

"A villain, when he seems most kind, Is most to be suspected."

"Oh love! thou bane of the most generous souls! Thou doubtful pleasure! and thou certain pain!"

"Go then, Patroclus, where thy glory calls."

"Whoe'er thou art, thy Lord and master see, Thou wast my Slave, thou art, or thou shalt be."

"['T]is the talk, and not the intrigue, that's the crime."