Genius is the gold in the mine, talent is the miner who works and brings it out.

The chief prerequisite for a escort is to have a flexible conscience and an inflexible politeness.

Modern historians are all would-be philosophers; who, instead of relating facts as they occurred, give us their version, or rather perversions of them, always colored by their political prejudices, or distorted to establish some theory . . .

Men are capable of making great sacrifices, who are not willing to make the lesser ones, on which so much of the happiness of life depends. The great sacrifices are seldom called for, but the minor ones are in daily requisition; and the making them with cheerfulness and grace enhances their value.

A beautiful woman without fixed principles may be likened to those fair but rootless flowers which float in streams, driven by every breeze.

Love and enthusiasm are always ridiculous, when not reciprocated by their objects.

Society seldom forgives those who have discovered the emptiness of its pleasures, and who can live independent of it and them.