It is commonly said that ridicule is the best test of truth; for that it will not stick where it is not just. I deny it. A truth learned in a certain light, and attacked in certain words, by men of wit and humor, may, and often doth, become ridiculous, at least so far, that the truth is only remembered and repeated for the sake of the ridicule.

You must be respectful and assenting, but without being servile and abject. You must be frank, but without indiscretion, and close, without being costive. You must keep up dignity of character, without the least pride of birth, or rank. You must be gay, within all the bounds of decency and respect; and grave, without the affectation of wisdom, which does not become the age of twenty. You must be essentially secret, without being dark and mysterious. You must be firm, and even bold, but with great seeming modesty.

A joker is near akin to a buffoon; and neither of them is the least related to wit.

Those whom you can make like themselves better will, I promise you, like you very well.

Little vicious minds abound with anger and revenge and are incapable of feeling te pleasure of forgiving their enemies.

Let them show me a cottage where there are not the same vices of which they accuse the courts.

A cheerful, easy, open countenance will make fools think you a good-natured man, and make designing men think you an undesigning one.