Truth needs not flowers of speech.

Be thou the first true merit to befriend, his praise is lost who stays till all commend.

Astrologers that future fates foreshow.

There are some solitary wretches who seem to have left the rest of mankind, only, as Eve left Adam, to meet the devil in private.

Who combats bravely is not therefore brave, He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave: Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise,- His pride in reasoning, not in acting lies.

A wit with dunces, and a dunce with wits.

Absent or dead, still let a friend be dear.