If a man, notoriously and designedly, insults and affronts you, knock him down; but if he only injures you, your best revenge is to be extremely civil to him in your outward behaviour, though at the same time you counterwork him, and return him the compliment, perhaps with interest.

Ceremony is necessary in Courts, as the outwork and defense of manners.

I look upon indolence as a sort of suicide.

Choose the company of your superiors whenever you can have it.

A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones.

I am provoked at the contempt which most historians show for humanity in general; one would think by them, that the whole human species consisted but of about a hundred and fifty people, called and dignified (commonly very undeservedly too) by the titles of Emperors, Kings, Popes, Generals, and Ministers.

The more one works, the more willing one is to work.