If thou art rich, then show the greatness of thy fortune; or what is better, the greatness of thy soul, in the meekness of thy conversation; condescend to men of low estate, support the distressed, and patronize the neglected. Be great.

...beauty, like truth, never is so glorious as when it goes the plainest.

The most affluent may be stripped of all, and find his worldly comforts, like so many withered leaves, dropping from him.

We lose the right of complaining sometimes, by denying something, but this often triples its force.

An English man does not travel to see English men.

It is sweet to feel by what fine spun threads our affections are drawn together.

In solitude the mind gains strength, and learns to lean upon herself; in the world it seeks or accepts of a few treacherous supports--the feigned compassion of one, the flattery of a second, the civilities of a third, the friendship of a fourth--they all deceive, and bring the mind back to retirement, reflection, and books.