Remember that the wit, humour, and jokes of most mixed companies are local. They thrive in that particular soil, but will not often bear transplanting.

To please people is a great step towards persuading them.

The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.

Our conjectures pass upon us for truths; we will know what we do not know, and often, what we cannot know: so mortifying to our pride is the base suspicion of ignorance.

Virtue and learning, like gold, have their intrinsic value: but if they are not polished, they certainly lose a great deal of their luster: and even polished brass will pass upon more people than rough gold.

Few people do business well, who do nothing else.

In business be as able as you can, but do not be cunning; cunning is the dark sanctuary of incapacity.