The fact is, people who don't have any misfortunes are very irritating to their neighbours. No opportunities for popping in with condolences and new-laid eggs. No visits to the afflicted. No opportunities for the milk of human kindness to flow. Naturally it doesn't.

Nobody likes to be accused of a virtue.

Anyone who pretends not to be interested in money is either a fool or a knave.

It is the man who is sure of himself who disregards the opinion of the world. To be sure is to have power.

there are virtues which are very well in the abstract, but which, encountered in the flesh, can be a source of extreme irritation.

It is always better to say too little than too much.

Children want one thing at a time, and want that one thing passionately.