Old maids, having never bent their temper or their lives to other lives and other tempers, as woman's destiny requires, have for the most part a mania for making everything about them bend to them.

The winter's frost must rend the burr of the nut before the fruit is seen. So adversity tempers the human heart, to discover its real worth.

Virtue, perhaps, is nothing more than politeness of soul.

All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive joy or sorrow.

Friendships last when each friend thinks he has a slight superiority over the other.

Noble hearts are neither jealous nor afraid because jealousy spells doubt and fear spells pettiness.

Glory is a poison, good to be taken in small doses.