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.

Great things astonish us, and small dishearten us. Custom makes both familiar.

To forget someone means to think of him.

Amongst such as out of cunning hear all and talk little, be sure to talk less; or if you must talk, say little.

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

Pure friendship is something which men of an inferior intellect can never taste.

A mediocre mind thinks it writes divinely; a good mind thinks it writes reasonably.