Much is due to those who first broke the way to knowledge, and left only to their successors the task of smoothing it.

Never speak of a man in his own presence. It is always indelicate, and may be offensive .

Before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding.

No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned... a man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.

Few moments are more pleasing than those in which the mind is concerting measures for a new undertaking.

To do something is in every man's power.

The great end of prudence is to give cheerfulness to those hours which splendor cannot gild, and acclamation cannot exhilarate.