Wrongs are often forgiven; but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever.

True politeness is perfect ease and freedom. It simply consists in treating others just as you love to be treated yourself.

The vulgar look upon a man, who is reckoned a fine speaker, as a phenomenon, a supernatural being, and endowed with some peculiargift of Heaven; they stare at him, if he walks in the park, and cry, that is he. You will, I am sure, view him in a juster light, and nulla formidine. You will consider him only as a man of good sense, who adorns common thoughts with the graces of elocution, and the elegancy of style. The miracle will then cease.

The most ignorant are the boldest conjecturers.

I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide.

To take a wife merely as an agreeable and rational companion, will commonly be found to be a grand mistake.

Endeavor, as much as you can, to keep company with people above you.... Do not mistake, when I say company above you, and think that I mean with regard to their birth; that is the least consideration; but I mean with regard to their merit, and the light in which the world considers them.