A sentence well couched takes both the sense and understanding. I love not those cart-rope speeches that are longer than the memory of man can fathom.

Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect, change is the way to perfect them.

Irresolution is a worse vice than rashness. He that shoots best may sometimes miss the mark; but he that shoots not at all can never hit it. Irresolution loosens all the joints of a state; like an ague, it shakes not this nor that limb, but all the body is at once in a fit. The irresolute man is lifted from one place to another; so hatcheth nothing, but addles all his actions.

Business is the salt of life, which not only gives a grateful smack to it, but dries up those crudities that would offend, preserves from putrefaction and drives off all those blowing flies that would corrupt it.

I love the man that is modestly valiant; that stirs not till he most needs, and then to purpose. A continued patience I commend not.

He who would be singular in his apparel had need have something superlative to balance that affectation.

The boundary of man is moderation. When once we pass that pale our guardian angel quits his charge of us.