The permanency of most friendships depends upon the continuity of good fortune.

There is not a more prudent maxim, than to live with one's enemies as if they may one day become one's friends; as it commonly happens, sooner or later, in the vicissitudes of political affairs.

In business be as able as you can, but do not be cunning; cunning is the dark sanctuary of incapacity.

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.

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.

Our own self-love draws a thick veil between us and our faults.

I always put these pert jackanapeses out of countenance by looking extremely grave when they expect that I should laugh at their pleasantries; and by saying Well, and so?--as if they had not done, and that the sting were still to come. This disconcerts them, as they have no resources in themselves, and have but one set of jokes to live upon.