Eloquence resides as much in the tone of voice, in the eyes, and in the expression of the face, as in the choice of words.

Of all our faults, the one we avow most easily is idleness; we persuade ourselves that it is allied to all the peaceable virtues,and as for the others, that it does not destroy them utterly, but only suspends the exercise of their functions.

There is merit without rank, but there is no rank without some merit.

The measure of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it.

Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person?

Sometimes a fool has talent, but never judgment.

A man is perhaps ungrateful, but often less chargeable with ingratitude than his benefactor is.