To have frequent recourse to narrative betrays great want of imagination.

May you live as long as you are fit to live, but no longer, or, may you rather die before you cease to be fit to live than after!

All ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet, a man of the world should know them. They are the outworks of Mannersand Decency, which would be too often broken in upon, if it were not for that defence, which keeps the enemy at a proper distance.

The best way to compel weak-minded people to adopt our opinion, is to frighten them from all others, by magnifying their danger.

I recommend to you to take care of the minutes; for hours will take care of themselves. I am very sure, that many people lose two or three hours every day, by not taking care of the minutes.

It seems to me that physical sickness softens, just as moral sickness hardens, the heart.

To please people is a great step towards persuading them.