I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide.

An ignorant man is insignificant and contemptible; nobody cares for his company, and he can just be said to live, and that is all.

It is to be presumed, that a man of common sense, who does not desire to please, desires nothing at all; since he must know that he cannot obtain anything without it.

There is hardly anybody good for everything, and there is scarcely anybody who is absolutely good for nothing.

The manner of a vulgar man has freedom without ease, and the manner of a gentleman has ease without freedom.

Whoever plays deep must necessarily lose his money or his character.

In the course of the world, a man must very often put on an easy, frank countenance, upon very disagreeable occasions; he must seem pleased, when he is very much otherwise; he must be able to accost and receive with smiles, those whom he would much rather meet with swords.