Talk often, but never long; in that case, if you do not please, at least you are sure not to tire your hearers. Pay your own reckoning, but do not treat the whole company; this being one of the few cases in which people do not care to be treated, every one being fully convinced that he has wherewithal to pay.

Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

People will no more advance their civility to a bear, than their money to a bankrupt.

Knowledge of the world in only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet.

If you wish particularly to gain the good graces and affection of certain people, men or women, try to discover their most striking merit, if they have one, and their dominant weakness, for every one has his own, then do justice to the one, and a little more than justice to the other.

Fear manifested invites danger.

Ugliness is a letter of credit for some special purposes.