The three great apostles of practical atheism, that make converts without persecuting, and retain them without preaching, are wealth, health and power.

A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.

We should have all our communications with men, as in the presence of God; and with God, as in the presence of men.

The plainest man that can convince a woman that he is really in love with her has done more to make her in love with him than the handsomest man, if he can produce no such conviction. For the love of woman is a shoot, not a seed, and flourishes most vigorously only when ingrafted on that love which is rooted in the breast of another.

We are more inclined to hate one another for points on which we differ, than to love one another for points on which we agree. The reason perhaps is this: when we find others that agree with us, we seldom trouble ourselves to confirm that agreement; but when we chance on those who differ from us, we are zealous both to convince and to convert them. Our pride is hurt by the failure, and disappointed pride engenders hatred.

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

The man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are.