I always put these pert jackanapeses out of countenance by looking extremely grave when they expect that I should laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying Well, and so?--as if they had not done, and that the sting were still to come. This disconcerts them, as they have no resources in themselves, and have but one set of jokes to live upon.

It is good breeding alone that can prepossess people in your favor at first sight, more time being necessary to discover greater talents.

The power of applying attention, steady and undissipated, to a single object, is the sure mark of superior genius.

A gentleman is often seen, but very seldom heard to laugh.

Nature has hardly formed a woman ugly enough to be insensible to flattery upon her person.

I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.

If you wish particularly to gain the good graces and affection of certain people, men or women, try to discover their most striking merit, if they have one, and their dominant weakness, for every one has his own, then do justice to the one, and a little more than justice to the other.