The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so.

Moderation cannot have the credit of combatiug and subduing ambition, they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and indolence of the soul, as ambition is its activity and ardor.

No fools are so difficult to manage as those with some brains.

There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.

Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats.

The whimsicalness of our own humor is a thousand times more fickle and unaccountable than what we blame so much in fortune.

The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.