Love is the business of the idle, but the idleness of the busy.

The great secrets of being courted are, to shun others, and seem delighted with yourself.

The commerce of intellect loves distant shores. The small retail dealer trades only with his neighbor; when the great merchant trades he links the four quarters of the globe.

You know There are moments when silence, prolonged and unbroken, More expressive may be than all words ever spoken.

Irony is to the high-bred what billingsgate is to the vulgar; and when one gentleman thinks another gentleman an ass, he does not say it point-blank, he implies it in the politest terms he can invent.

Genius is but fine observation strengthened by fixity of purpose.

The Italians have voices like peacocks - German gives me a cold in the head - and Russian is nothing but sneezing