It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.

Those whom the world has delighted to honor have oftener been influenced in their doings by ambition and vanity than by patriotism.

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.

Even the most disinterested love is, after all, but a kind of bargain, in which self-love always proposes to be the gainer one wayor another.

In the presence of some people we inevitably depart From ourselves: we are inaccurate, we say things we do not feel, And talk nonsense. When we get home we are conscious that we Have made fools of ourselves. Never go near these people.

Time's chariot-wheels make their carriage-road in the fairest face.

What often prevents our abandoning ourselves to a single vice is, our having more than one.