If men wish to be held in esteem, they must associate with those only who are estimable.

Criticism is as often a trade as a science, requiring, as it does, more health than wit, more labour than capacity, more practice than genius.

Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life. It is only found in men of sound sense and understanding.

I do not doubt but that genuine piety is the spring of peace of mind; it enables us to bear the sorrows of life, and lessens the pangs of death: the same cannot be said of hypocrisy.

You think him to be your dupe; if he feigns to be so who is the greater dupe, he or you?

Caprice in women often infringes upon the rules of decency.

The pleasure of criticizing takes away from us the pleasure of being moved by some very fine things.