Character must be kept bright as well as clean.

It is good breeding alone that can prepossess people in your favor at first sight, more time being necessary to discover greater talents.

Our prejudices are our mistresses; reason is at best our wife, very often heard indeed, but seldom minded.

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.

The most ignorant are the boldest conjecturers.

Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions.... Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself what such and such an amusement leads to, as it is essential to have an objective in everything you do. Any pastime that contributes nothing to bodily strength or to mental alertness is a totally ridiculous, not to say, idiotic, pleasure.

Fear invites danger; concealed cowards insult known ones.