If some persons died, and others did not die, death would be a terrible affliction.

Party loyalty lowers the greatest men to the petty level of the masses.

A man unattached and without wife, if he have any genius at all, may raise himself above his original position, may mingle with the world of fashion, and hold himself on a level with the highest; this is less easy for him who is engaged; it seems as if marriage put the whole world in their proper rank.

A man must have very eminent qualities to hold his own without being polite.

We seldom repent of speaking little, very often of speaking too much: a vulgar and trite maxim, which all the world knows and, but which all the world does not practice

Genius and great abilities are often wanting; sometimes, only opportunities. Some deserve praise for what they have done; others for what they would have done.

One must laugh before one is happy, or one may die without ever laughing at all.