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.

A coxcomb is the blockhead's man of merit.

The pleasure we feel in criticizing robs us from being moved by very beautiful things.

We meet With few utterly dull and stupid souls: the sublime and transcendent are still fewer; the generality of mankind stand between these two extremes: the interval is filled with multitudes of ordinary geniuses, but all very useful, and the ornaments and supports of the commonwealth.

A man can keep another's secret better than his own. A woman her own better than others.

Avoid making yourself the subject of conversation.

A man reveals his character even in the simplest things he does.