I really think next to the consciousness of doing a good action, that of doing a civil one is the most pleasing; and the epithet which I should covet the most next to that of Aristides, would be that of well-bred.

Statesmen and beauties are very rarely sensible of the gradations of their decay.

The receipt to make a speaker, and an applauded one too, is short and easy. Take common sense quantum sufficit; add a little application to the rules and orders of the House [of Commons], throw obvious thoughts in a new light, and make up the whole with a large quantity of purity, correctness and elegancy of style. Take it for granted that by far the greatest part of mankind neither analyze nor search to the bottom; they are incapable of penetrating deeper than the surface.

Anne of Austria (with great submission to a Crowned Head do I say it) was a B----. She had spirit and courage without parts, devotion without common morality, and lewdness without tenderness either to justify or to dignify it. Her two sons were no more Lewis the Thirteen's than they were mine.

The vulgar only laugh, but never smile; whereas well-bred people often smile, but seldom laugh.

No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.

Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics.