Tell a thousand people to draft a letter, let them debate every phrase, and see how long it takes and what you get.

If I may venture to be frank I would say about myself that I was every inch a gentleman.

The more a man knows, the more he forgives.

Nothing is more difficult, in my opinion, than to avoid something that fundamentally attracts you.

To tempt, and to be tempted, are things very nearly allied, and, in spite of the finest maxims of morality impressed upon the mind, whenever feeling has anything to do in the matter, no sooner is it excited than we have already gone vastly farther than we are aware of, and I have yet to learn how it is possible to prevent its being excited.

to tempt and be tempted are closely allied; and in spite of all the finest moral maxims buried in the mind, when emotion interferes, when feeling makes its appearance, one is already much further involved that one realizes, and I have still not learnt how to prevent its appearance.

I like to praise and reward in a loud voice and to scold in a whisper.