A man's profundity may keep him from opening on a first interview, and his caution on a second; but I should suspect his emptiness, if he carried on his reserve to a third.

A fool is often as dangerous to deal with as a knave, and always more incorrigible.

If you are under obligations to many, it is prudent to postpone the recompensing of one, until it be in your power to remunerate all; otherwise you will make more enemies by what you give, than by what you withhold.

Genius in one grand particular is like life. We know nothing of either but by their effects.

Most importantly: Don't adjust your results to build up the ego of the chief strategist. Especially if the strategist is you.

Mystery magnifies danger as the fog the sun.

It is far more easy to acquire a fortune like a knave, than to expend it, like a gentleman.