Surmise is the gossamer that malice blows on fair reputations, the corroding dew that destroys the choice blossom. Surmise is primarily the squint of suspicion, and suspicion is established before it is confirmed.

Fools with bookish knowledge art children with edged weapons; they hurt themselves, and put others in pain.

The more you speak of yourself, the more you are likely to lie.

Indolent people, whatever taste they may have for society, seek eagerly for pleasure, and find nothing. They have an empty head and seared hearts.

The quarter of an hour before dinner is the worst that suitors can choose.

Take care to be an economist in prosperity. There is no fear of your being one in adversity.

It would be a considerable consolation to the poor and discontented could they but see the means whereby the wealth they covet has been acquired, or the misery that it entails.