The difference between a man of sense and a fop is that the fop values himself upon his dress; and the man of sense laughs at it, at the same time he knows he must not neglect it.

Not to perceive the little weaknesses and the idle but innocent affectations of the company may be allowable as a sort of polite duty. The company will be pleased with you if you do, and most probably will not be reformed by you if you do not.

A man of sense may be in haste, but can never be in a hurry.

He makes people pleased with him by making them first pleased with themselves.

I would have all intoleration intolerated in its turn.

History is but a confused heap of facts.

Speak of the moderns without contempt and of the ancients without idolatry; judge them all by their merits, but not by their age