A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay.

Politics are now nothing more than means of rising in the world. With this sole view do men engage in politics, and their whole conduct proceeds upon it.

I am sorry I have not learnt to play at cards. It is very useful in life: it generates kindness, and consolidates society.

What signifies protesting so against flattery when a person speaks well of one, it must either be true or false, you know if true, let us rejoice in his good opinion if he lies, it is a proof at least that he loves more to please me, than to sit s

But the distant hope of being one day useful or eminent ought not to mislead us too far from that study which is equally requisite to the great and mean, to the celebrated and obscure; the art of moderating the desires, of repressing the appetites; and of conciliating or retaining the favour of mankind.

Riches are of no value in themselves; their use is discovered only in that which they procure.