It is commonly a dangerous thing for a man to have more sense than his neighbors. Socrates paid for his superiority with his life; and if Aristotle saved his skin, it; was by taking to his heels in time.
Fine sense and exalted sense are not half so useful as common sense; there are forty men of wit for one man of good sense; and he that will carry nothing about with him but gold, will be every day at a loss for readier change.
To act with common sense, according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know; and the best philosophy, to do ones duties, to take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to ones lot, bless the goodness that has given us so much happiness with it, whatever it is, and despise affectation.
All the beautiful orders of architecture and creations of the pencil, all the conceptions of the beautiful in nature and art and humanity, are inventions extorted, as it were, from the mind to extend and increase the pleasures of sense.