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

In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must seem pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to accost and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords.

The heart never grows better by age; I fear rather worse; always harder.

The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner, that he thinks it mere condescension in him; and that his goodness alone bestows upon you what you have no pretense to claim.

A young fellow ought to be wiser than he should seem to be; and an old fellow ought to seem wise whether he really be so or not.

A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat.

Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known than their crimes.