Sincerity is the most compendious wisdom.

The vulgar look upon a man, who is reckoned a fine speaker, as a phenomenon, a supernatural being, and endowed with some peculiargift of Heaven; they stare at him, if he walks in the park, and cry, that is he. You will, I am sure, view him in a juster light, and nulla formidine. You will consider him only as a man of good sense, who adorns common thoughts with the graces of elocution, and the elegancy of style. The miracle will then cease.

Young men are apt to think themselves wise enough, as drunken men are apt to think themselves sober enough.

Frequent and loud laughter is the characteristic of folly and ill manners.

When griefs are genuine, I find, there is nothing more vacuous, more burdensome, or even more impertinent, than letters of consolation.

A gentleman has ease without familiarity, is respectful without meanness; genteel without affectation, insinuating without seeming art.

History is but a confused heap of facts.