I would advise him who wishes to imitate well, to look closely into life and manners, and thereby to learn to express them with truth.
Ridicule is often employed with more power and success than severity.
This was my prayer: an adequate portion of land with a garden and a spring of water and a small wood to complete the picture.
You may suppress natural propensities by force, but they will be certain to re-appear.
We get blows and return them.
If you are only an underling, don't dress too fine.