To take a wife merely as an agreeable and rational companion, will commonly be found to be a grand mistake.

A rake is a composition of all the lowest, most ignoble, degrading, and shameful vices; they all conspire to disgrace his character, and to ruin his fortune; while wine and the pox content which shall soonest and most effectually destroy his constitution.

Hear one side and you will be in the dark. Hear both and all will be clear.

Next to clothes being fine, they should be well made, and worn easily; for a man is only the less genteel for a fine coat, if, in wearing it, he shows a regard for it, and is not as easy in it as if it was a plain one.

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

Two people cannot be alone together for upwards of half an hour without one emerging as the superior.

Absolute power can only be supported by error, ignorance and prejudice.