The New Year is the season in which custom seems more particularly to authorize civil and harmless lies, under the name of compliments. People reciprocally profess wishes which they seldom form and concern which they seldom feel.

Swift speedy time, feathered with flying hours, Dissolves the beauty of the fairest brow.

When you have found out the prevailing passion of any man, remember never to trust him where that passion is concerned.

Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.

Letters should be easy and natural, and convey to the persons to whom we send them just what we should say to the persons if we were with them.

For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man than with an absent one; for if the dead man gives me no pleasure, at least he shows me no contempt; whereas the absent one, silently indeed, but very plainly, tells me that he does not think me worth his attention.

I sometimes give myself admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it.