Rare almost as great poets, rarer, perhaps, than veritable saints and martyrs; are consummate men of business. A man, to be excellent in this way, requires a great knowledge of character, with that exquisite tact which feels unerringly the right moment when to act. A discreet rapidity must pervade all the movements of his thought and action. He must be singularly free from vanity, and is generally found to be an enthusiast who has the art to conceal his enthusiasm.

Men of much depth of mind can bear a great deal of counsel; for it does not easily deface their own character, nor render their purposes indistinct.

What a blessing this smoking is! Perhaps the greatest that we owe to the discovery of America.

Remember that in giving any reason at all for refusing, you lay some foundation for a future request.

A man's action is only a picture book of his creed.

The measure of civilization in a people is to be found in its just appreciation of the wrongfulness of war.

Some persons, instead of making a religion for their God, are content to make a god of their religion.