Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Judgment is not upon all occasions required, but discretion always is.

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

In seeking wisdom thou art wise; in imagining that thou hast attained it - thou art a fool.

Keep carefully not of all scrapes and quarrels. They lower a character extremely; and are particularly dangerous in France, wherea man is dishonoured by not resenting an affront, and utterly ruined by resenting it.

Take rather than give the tone to the company you are in. If you have parts you will show them more or less upon every subject; and if you have not, you had better talk sillily upon a subject of other people's than of your own choosing.

The scholar without good breeding is a pedant; the philosopher, a cynic.