In nature the most violent passions are silent; in tragedy they must speak and speak with dignity too.

I could wish there were a treaty made between the French and the English theatres, in which both parties should make considerableconcessions. The English ought to give up their notorious violations of the unities, and all their massacres, racks, dead bodies, and mangled carcasses, which they so frequently exhibit upon their stage. The French should engage to have more action, and less declamation, and not to cram and to crowd things together to almost a degree of impossibility from a too scrupulous adherence to the unities.

Character must be kept bright as well as clean.

Observe any meetings of people, and you will always find their eagerness and impetuosity rise or fall in proportion to their numbers.

When griefs are genuine, I find, there is nothing more vacuous, more burdensome, or even more impertinent, than letters of consolation.

A man's fortune is frequently decided by his first address. If pleasing, others at once conclude he has merit; but if ungraceful, they decide against him.

The best way to compel weak-minded people to adopt our opinion, is to frighten them from all others, by magnifying their danger.