Were you to converse with a king, you ought to be as easy and unembarrassed as with your own valet-de chambre; but yet every look,word, and action should imply the utmost respect.... You must wait till you are spoken to; you must receive, not give, the subject of conversation, and you must even take care that the given subject of such conversation do not lead you into any impropriety.

Few fathers care much for their sons, or at least, most of them care more for their money. Of those who really love their sons, few know how to do it.

When griefs are genuine, I find, there is nothing more vacuous, more burdensome, or even more impertinent, than letters of consolation.

An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

Whoever incites anger has a strong insurance against indifference.

A cheerful, easy, open countenance will make fools think you a good-natured man, and make designing men think you an undesigning one.