Folly consists not in committing Folly, but in being incapable of concealing it. All men make mistakes, but the wise conceal the blunders they have made, while fools make them public. Reputation depends more on what is hidden than on what is seen. If you can’t be good, be careful.

Do not show your wounded finger for everything will knock up against it.

You may be obliged to wage war, but not to use poisoned arrows.

Every fool stands convinced; and everyone convinced is a fool. The faultier a person's judgement the firmer their convictions.

Knowing how to keep a friend is more important than gaining a new one.

You should aim to be independent of any one vote, of any one fashion, of any one century.

To find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.