He is not to pass for a man of reason who stumbles upon reason by chance but he who knows it and can judge it and has a true taste for it.

It is not expedient or wise to examine our friends too closely; few persons are raised in our esteem by a close examination.

We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.

Self-love, as it happens to be well or ill conducted, constitutes virtue and vice.

Criticism sometimes is really praise, and praise sometimes slander.

Some accidents there are in life that a little folly is necessary to help us out of.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.