In a Man's Letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirrour of his breast.

All the performances of human art, at which we look with praise or wonder, are instances of the resistless force of perseverance.

Love has no great influences upon the sum of life.

No man is much regarded by the rest of the world. He that considers how little he dwells upon the condition of others, will learn how little the attention of others is attracted by himself. While we see multitudes passing before us, of whom perhaps not one appears to deserve our notice or excites our sympathy, we should remember, that we likewise are lost in the same throng, that the eye which happens to glance upon us is turned in a moment on him that follows us, and that the utmost which we can reasonably hope or fear is to fill a vacant hour with prattle, and be forgotten.

Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off.

You need a good editor because every writer thinks he can write a War and Peace, but by the time he gets it on paper, it's not War and Peace anymore; it's comic-book stuff. Your manuscript is both good and original. But the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

Life will not bear refinement. You must do as other people do.