War is much too serious a thing to be left to military men.
Politics is the systematic cultivation of hatred.
A court is an assembly of noble and distinguished beggars.
In a novel, the author gives the leading character intelligence and distinction. Fate goes to less trouble: mediocrities play a part in great events simply from happening to be there.
In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily.
She is such a good friend that she would throw all her acquaintances into the water for the pleasure of fishing them out again.