If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is, he keeps his at the same time.

It is the first rule in oratory that a man must appear such as he would persuade others to be: and that can be accomplished only by the force of his life.

When we are old, our friends find it difficult to please us, and are less concerned whether we be pleased or not.

If it were a rainy day, a drunken vigil, a fit of the spleen, a course of physic, sleepy Sunday, an ill run at dice, a long tailor's bill, a beggar's purse, a factious head, a hot sun, costive diet, want of books, and a just contempt for learning - but for these. . .the number of authors and of writing would dwindle away to a degree most woeful to behold.

Love of flattery, in most men, proceeds from the mean opinion they have of themselves; in women, from the contrary.

Hereditary right should be kept sacred, not from any inalienable right in a particular family, but to avoid the consequences that usually attend the ambition of competitors.

Under the rose, since here are none but friends, To own the truth we have some private ends.