The daily employment of cunning marks a little mind, it generally happens that those who resort to it in one respect to protect themselves lay themselves open to attack in another.

The height of ability in the least able consists in knowing how to submit to the good leadership of others.

Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself.

Jealousy is the greatest of all evils, and the one that arouses the least pity in the person who causes it.

It is not enough that we should succeed, but our friends must fail as well.

We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is nothing else but fearing to look it in the face--so that this pretended bravery may very truly be said to do the same good office to their mind that the blindfold does to their eyes.

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.