In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must seem pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to accost and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords.

A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.

Buy good books, and read them; the best books are the commonest, and the last editions are always the best, if the editors are not blockheads.

A joker is near akin to a buffoon; and neither of them is the least related to wit.

Assurance and intrepidity, under the white banner of seeming modesty, clear the way for merit, that would otherwise be discouraged by difficulties...

Character must be kept bright as well as clean.

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.