I have been reading the correspondence of Horace Walpole for the years 1765/66 as part of my researches into Adam Smith’s life in Paris. (Walpole’s first visit to Paris coincided with Smith’s second.) Walpole, a prolific and witty letter writer, was a fascinating character in his own right, and I will have more to say about his relationship to Adam Smith during their time in Paris. In the meantime, however, below are three of my favorite quotes from his letters:
“… next to successful enemies, I dread triumphant friends.” (Letter 1034)
“Our ancestors were rogues, and so will our posterity be.” (Letter 1040)
“… though I have little to write, I have a great deal to say.” (Letter 1045)
“Preaching has not failed [to rid the world of sin] …, not because inadequate to the disease, but because the disease is incurable.” (Letter 1047)
“The less I esteem folks the less I would quarrel with them.” (Letter 1048)
“Tranquility bounds my ambition.” (Letter 1050)
“I have always sighed for thundering revolutions, but have been … content with changes of ministers.” (Letter 1058)
prior probability 
Reblogged this on prior probability and commented:
I am reblogging my of compilation of some of Horace Walpole’s aphorisms because I have added four new quotations to my list:
“… next to successful enemies, I dread triumphant friends.” (Letter 1034)
“Preaching has not failed [to rid the world of sin] …, not because inadequate to the disease, but because the disease is incurable.” (Letter 1047)
“Tranquility bounds my ambition.” (Letter 1050)
“I have always sighed for thundering revolutions, but have been … content with changes of ministers.” (Letter 1058)