Second-rate knowledge, and middling talents, carry a man farther at courts, and in the busy part of the world, than superior knowledge and shining parts.

In the mass of mankind, I fear, there is too great a majority of fools and knaves; who, singly from their number, must to a certain degree be respected, though they are by no means respectable.

Sculpture and painting are very justly called liberal arts; a lively and strong imagination, together with a just observation, being absolutely necessary to excel in either; which, in my opinion, is by no means the case of music, though called a liberal art, and now in Italy placed even above the other two--a proof of the decline of that country.

Women are much more like each other than men: they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics.

Sincerity is the most compendious wisdom.

The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment.

There will never be a better time to start quitting smoking than today