His foodWas glory, which was poison to his mindAnd peril to his body.

The philosophy which affects to teach us a contempt of money does not run very deep; for, indeed, it ought to be still more clear to the philosopher than it is to ordinary men, that there are few things in the world of greater importance.

We figure to ourselves The thing we like; and then we build it up, As chance will have it, on the rock or sand,- For thought is tired of wandering o'er the world, And homebound Fancy runs her bark ashore.

When you give, therefore, take to yourself no credit for generosity, unless you deny yourself something in order that you may give.

I have not skillFrom such a sharp and waspish word as "No"To pluck the sting.

Shy and unready men are great betrayers of secrets, for there are few wants more urgent for the moment than the want of something to say.

Prodigality is indeed the vice of a weak nature, as avarice is of a strong one; it comes of a weak craving for those blandishments of the world which are easily to be had for money, and which, when obtained, are as much worse than worthless as a harlot's love is worse than none.