God is on the side of virtue; for whoever dreads punishment suffers it, and whoever deserves it, dreads it .

A coxcomb begins by determining that his own profession is the first; and he finishes by deciding that he is the first of profession.

Next to acquiring good friends, the best acquisition is that of good books.

Cruel men are the greatest lovers of Mercy, avaricious men of generosity, and proud men of humility; that is to say, in other, not in themselves.

When young, we trust ourselves too much, and we trust others too little when old. Rashness is the error of youth, timid caution of age. Manhood is the isthmus between the two extremes; the ripe and fertile season of action, when alone we can hope to find the head to contrive, united with the hand to execute.

Error, when she retraces her steps, has farther to go before she can arrive at truth than ignorance.

There is more jealousy between rival wits than rival beauties, for vanity has no sex. But in both cases there must be pretensions, or there will be no jealousy.