Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial.

Love has been not unaptly compared to the small-pox, which most people have sooner or later.

Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.

A gentleman is often seen, but very seldom heard to laugh.

The difference between a man of sense and a fop is that the fop values himself upon his dress; and the man of sense laughs at it, at the same time he knows he must not neglect it.

There are people who indulge themselves in a sort of lying, which they reckon innocent, and which in one sense is so; for it hurtsnobody but themselves. This sort of lying is the spurious offspring of vanity, begotten upon folly.

One should always think of what one is about; when one is learning, one should not think of play; and when one is at play, one should not think of learning.