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.

Hobbies should be wives, not mistresses. It will not do to have more than one at a time. One hobby leads you out of extravagance; a team of hobbies you cannot drive till you are rich enough to find corn for them all. Few men are rich enough for that.

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

Imitation, if noble and general, insures the best hope of originality.

Power is so characteristically calm, that calmness in itself has the aspect of strength.

Though Hope be a small child, she can carry a great anchor!

Bu is a word that cools many a warm impulse, stifles many a kindly thought, puts a dead stop to many a brotherly deed. No one would ever love his neighbor as himself if he listened to all the Buts that could be said.