There is hardly any place or any company where you may not gain knowledge, if you please; almost everybody knows some one thing, and is glad to talk about that one thing.

I am in the pitiable situation of feeling all the force of temptation without having the strength to succumb to it.

Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.

The greatest powers cannot injure a man's character whose reputation is unblemished among his party.

Never write down your speeches beforehand; if you do, you may perhaps be a good declaimer, but will never be a debater.

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

Distrust those who love you extremely upon a slight acquaintance, and without any visible reason.