Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least.

In nature the most violent passions are silent; in tragedy they must speak and speak with dignity too.

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

In order to judge of the inside of others, study your own; for men in general are very much alike; and though one has one prevailing passion, and another has another, yet their operations are much the same; and whatever engages or disgusts, pleases or offends you, in others, will, mutatis mutandis, engage, disgust, please, or offend others, in you.

Learning is acquired by reading books; much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various editions of them.

Our prejudices are our mistresses; reason is at best our wife, very often heard indeed, but seldom minded.

Absolute power can only be supported by error, ignorance and prejudice.