Silence and reserve suggest latent power. What some men think has more effect than what others say.

A man of sense only trifles with them, plays with them, humors and flatters them, as he does with a sprightly and forward child; but he neither consults them about, nor trusts them with, serious matters.

I heartily wish you, in the plain home-spun style, a great number of happy new years, well employed in forming both your mind andyour manners, to be useful and agreeable to yourself, your country, and your friends.

The heart has such an influence over the understanding, that it is worth while to engage it in our interest.

When you have found out the prevailing passion of any man, remember never to trust him where that passion is concerned.

The manner of a vulgar man has freedom without ease, and the manner of a gentleman has ease without freedom.

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.