Gratitude is like the good faith of traders: it maintains commerce, and we often pay, not because it is just to discharge our debts, but that we may more readily find people to trust us.

We often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other means.

A readiness to believe ill of others, before we have duly examined it, is the effect of laziness and pride. We are eager to find aculprit, and loath to give ourselves the trouble of examining the crime.

Sometimes a fool has talent, but never judgment.

It is most difficult to speak when we are ashamed of being silent.

If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.

Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.