Secrecy is best taught by starting with ourselves.

The poor are the blacks of Europe.

It is commonly supposed that the art of pleasing is a wonderful aid in the pursuit of fortune; but the art of being bored is infinitely more successful.

Every day I add to the list of things I refuse to discuss. The wiser the man, the longer the list.

Man may aspire to virtue, but he cannot reasonably aspire to truth.

Most benefactors are like unskillful generals who take the city and leave the citadel intact.

Society is composed of two great classes, those that have more dinners than appetite, and those who have more appetite than dinners.