There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.

He who excels in his art so as to carry it to the utmost height of perfection of which it is capable may be said in some measure to go beyond it: his transcendent productions admit of no appellations.

Even the best intentioned of great men need a few scoundrels around them; there are some things you cannot ask an honest ma to do.

We are more sociable, and get on better with people by the heart than the intellect.

False modesty is the masterpiece of vanity: showing the vain man in such an illusory light that he appears in the reputation of the virtue quite opposite to the vice which constitutes his real character; it is a deceit.

Men make the best friends.

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