No man likes to live under the eye of perpetual disapprobation.

The hostility perpetually exercised between one man and another, is caused by the desire of many for that which only few can possess. Every man would be rich, powerful, and famous; yet fame, power, and riches, are only the names of relative conditions, which imply the obscurity, dependence, and poverty of greater numbers.

Instead of rating the man by his performances, we rate too frequently the performances by the man.

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

Money confounds subordination.

I have protracted my work till most of those whom I wished to please have sunk into the grave, and success and miscarriage are empty sounds: I therefore dismiss it with frigid tranquillity, having little to fear or hope from censure or from praise.

If he does really think that there is no distinction between virtue and vice, why, sir, when he leaves our houses let us count our spoons.