At twenty a man is a peacock, at thirty a lion, at forty a camel, at fifty a serpent, at sixty a dog, at seventy an ape, at eighty a nothing at all.

Not he that adorns but he that adores makes a divinity.

Politeness is the chief sign of culture.

Hope has a good memory, gratitude a bad one.

It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it.

A gilded No is more satisfactory than a dry Yes.

When you counsel someone, you should appear to be reminding him of something he had forgotten, not of the light he was unable to see.