I am grown old, and have possibly lost a great deal of that fire, which formerly made me love fire in others at any rate, and however attended with smoke: but now I must have all sense, and cannot, for the sake of five righteous lines, forgive a thousand absurd ones.

It is by vivacity and wit that man shines in company; but trite jokes and loud laughter reduce him to a buffoon.

Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible.

Merit and knowledge will not gain hearts, though they will secure them when gained.

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

Dancing is, in itself, a very trifling and silly thing: but it is one of those established follies to which people of sense are sometimes obliged to conform; and then they should be able to do it well. And though I would not have you a dancer, yet, when you do dance, I would have you dance well, as I would have you do everything you do well.

Good breeding is the result of good sense, some good nature, and a little self-denial for the sake of others.