The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount. - Joseph Addison

The French are certainly the most implacable, and the most dangerous Enemys of the British Nation. Their Form of Government, their Religion, their Jealousy of the British Power, as well as their Prosecutions of Commerce, and Pursuits of Universal Monarchy, will fix them for ever in their Animosities and Aversions towards us, and make them catch at all Opportunities of subverting our Constitution, destroying our Religion, ruining our Trade, and sinking the Figure which we make among the Nations of Europe...
As we are thus in a natural State of War, if I may so call it, with the French Nation; it is our Misfortune, that they are not only the most inveterate, but most formidable of our Enemies; and have the greatest Power, as well as the strongest Inclination to ruin us.

Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.

If we hope for what we are not likely to possess, we act and think in vain, and make life a greater dream and shadow than it really is.