Honor is the most capricious in her rewards. She feeds us with air, and often pulls down our house, to build our monument.

No company is preferable to bad. We are more apt to catch the vices of others than virtues, as disease is far more contagious than health.

Gross and vulgar minds will always pay a higher respect to wealth than to talent; for wealth, although it be a far less efficient source of power than talent, happens to be far more intelligible.

Power, like the diamond, dazzles the beholder, and also the wearer; it dignifies meanness; it magnifies littleness; to what is contemptible, it gives authority; to what is low, exaltation.

Some men who know that they are great are so very haughty withal and insufferable that their acquaintance discover their greatness only by the tax of humility which they are obliged to pay as the price of their friendship.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery.

If Satan ever laughs, it must be at hypocrites; they are the greatest dupes he has.