Human nature itself, without any additional misfortunes, furnishes disagreeable meditations enough.

Life itself to make it supportable, should not be considered too near; my reason represents to me in vain the inutility of serious reflections.

The idle mind will sometimes fall into contemplations that serve for nothing but to ruin the health, destroy good humour, hasten old age and wrinkles, and bring on an habitual melancholy.

'Tis a maxim with me to be young as long as one can: there is nothing can pay one for that invaluable ignorance which is the companion of youth; those sanguine groundless hopes, and that lively vanity, which make all the happiness of life.

To my extreme mortification I grow wiser every day than other [sic].