A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.

Great names abase, instead of elevating, those who do not know how to bear them.

Almost everyone takes pleasure in repaying trifling obligations, very many feel gratitude for those that are moderate; but there is scarcely anyone who is not ungrateful for those that are weighty.

To establish yourself in the world a person must do all they can to appear already established.

Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one - as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.

We should only affect compassion, and carefully avoid having any.

People would not long remain in social life if they were not the dupes of each other.