A man of the world must seem to be what he wishes to be thought.

The whole genius of an author consists in describing well, and delineating character well. Homer, Plato, Virgil, Horace only excel other writers by their expressions and images; we must indicate what is true if we mean to write naturally, forcibly and delicately.

You may drive a dog off the King's armchair, and it will climb into the preacher's pulpit; he views the world unmoved, unembarrassed, unabashed.

Dissimulation, even the most innocent in its nature, is ever productive of embarrassment; whether the design is evil or not artifice is always dangerous and almost inevitably disgraceful.

Piety with some people, but especially with women, is either a passion, or an infirmity of age, or a fashion which must be followed.

The first day one is a guest, the second a burden, and the third a pest.

A woman is easily governed, if a man takes her in hand.