If the prodigal quits life in debt to others, the miser quits it still deeper in debt to himself.

Emulation has been termed a spur to virtue, and assumes to be a spur of gold. But it is a spur composed of baser materials, and if tried in the furnace will be found to want that fixedness which is the characteristic of gold. He that pursues virtue, only to surpass others, is not far from wishing others less forward than himself; and he that rejoices too much at his own perfections will be too little grieved at the defects of other men.

We often regret we did not do otherwise, when that very otherwise would, in all probability, have done for us.

If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.

When all run by common consent into vice, none appear to do so.

It is not every man that can afford to wear a shabby coat; and worldly wisdom dictates to her disciples the propriety of dressing somewhat beyond their means, but of living somewhat within them,--for every one, sees how we dress, but none see how we live, except we choose to let them. But the truly great are, by universal suffrage, exempted from these trammels, an may live or dress as they please.

Many books owe their success to the good memories of their authors and the bad memories of their readers.