Perhaps those, who, trembling most, maintain a dignity in their fate, are the bravest: resolution on reflection is real courage.

Nine-tenths of the people were created so you would want to be with the other tenth.

To act with common sense according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know.

I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.

I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.

The passions seldom give good advice but to the interested and mercenary. Resentment generally suggests bad measures. Second thoughts and good nature will rarely, very rarely, approve the first hints of anger.

A poet who makes use of a worse word instead of a better, because the former fits the rhyme or the measure, though it weakens the sense, is like a jeweller, who cuts a diamond into a brilliant, and diminishes the weight to make it shine more.