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.

If you have an hour, will you not improve that hour, instead of idling it away?

Montesquieu well knew, and justly admired, the happy constitution of this country [Great Britain], where fixed and known laws equally restrain monarchy from tyranny and liberty from licentiousness.

Give nobly to indigent merit, and do not refuse your charity even to those who have not merit but their misery.

Inferiority is what you enjoy in your best friends.

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

Great merit or great failings will make you respected or despised; but trifles, little attentions, mere nothings, either done or neglected, will make you either liked or disliked, in the general run of the world. Examine yourself, why you like such and such people and dislike such and such others; and you will find that those different sentiments proceed from very slight causes.