Let us not only scatter benefits, but even strew flowers for our fellow-travellers, in the rugged ways of this wretched world.

A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.

No man tastes pleasures truly, who does not earn them by previous business; and few people do business well, who do nothing else.

The greatest dangers have their allurements, if the want of success is likely to be attended with a degree of glory. Middling dangers are horrid, when the loss of reputation is the inevitable consequence of ill success.

Distrust those who love you extremely upon a slight acquaintance, and without any visible reason.

Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.

Learn to shrink yourself to the size of the company you are in. Take their tone, whatever it may be, and excell in it if you can;but never pretend to give the tone. A free conversation will no more bear a dictator than a free government will.