You must labour to acquire that great and uncommon talent of hating with good breeding, and loving with prudence; to make no quarrel irreconcilable by silly and unnecessary indications of anger; and no friendship dangerous, in care it breaks, by a wanton, indiscreet, and unreserved confidence.

The more one works, the more willing one is to work.

The only solid and lasting peace between a man and his wife is, doubtless, a separation.

In friendship, as well as in love, the mind is often the dupe of the heart.

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.

It is reported here that the King of Prussia has gone mad and has been locked up. There would be nothing bad about that: at leastthat might of his would no longer be a menace, and you could breathe freely for a while. I much prefer madmen who are locked up to those who are not.

If you can once engage people's pride, love, pity, ambition on your side, you need not fear what their reason can do against you.