Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much; yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirized can join in the satire.

Gravity is a mysterious carriage of the body invented to cover the defects of the mind.

The boldest stroke and best act of friendship is not to disclose our own failings to a friend, but to show him his own.

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.

We would rather see those to whom we do good, than those who do good to us.

Ideas often flash across our minds more complete than we could make them after much labor.

Avarice is more directly opposed to thrift than generosity is.