The most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their mind and eyes that at the very time they are wandering from what is said and desire to return to what they want to say.

In order to succeed in the world people do their upmost to appear successful.

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

Sometimes there is equal or more ability in knowing how to use good advice than there is in giving it.

Before strongly desiring anything, we should look carefully into the happiness of its present owner.

To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.

Great men should not have great faults.