Men are much more unwilling to have their weaknesses and their imperfections known, than their crimes; and, if you hint to a man that you think him silly, ignorant, or even ill-bred or awkward, he will hate you more, and longer, than if you tell him plainly that you think him a rogue.

If you love music hear it; go to operas, concerts, and pay fiddlers to play to you; but I insist upon your neither piping nor fiddling yourself. It puts a gentleman in a very frivolous, contemptible light; brings him into a great deal of bad company; and takes up a great deal of time, which might be much better employed.

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

Take the tone of the company you are in...

Women who are either indisputably beautiful, or indisputably ugly, are best flattered upon the score of their understandings.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.

The nation looked upon him as a deserter, and he shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.