When any one person or body of men seize into their hands the power in the last resort, there is properly no longer a government, but what Aristotle and his followers call the abuse and corruption of one.

The two maxims of any great man at court are, always to keep his countenance, and never to keep his word.

Flattery is the worst and falsest way of showing our esteem.

Orators inflame the people, whose anger is really but a short fit of madness.

Ay, do despise me, I'm the prouder for it; I like to be despised.

How is it possible to expect that mankind will take advice when they will not so much as take warning.

If the men of wit and genius would resolve never to complain in their works of critics and detractors, the next age would not know that they ever had any.