There is an unfortunate disposition in a man to attend much more to the faults of his companions which offend him, than to their perfections which please him.

I hardly know a sight that raises one's indignation more than that of an enlarged soul joined to a contracted fortune; unless it be that so much more common one, of a contracted soul joined to an enlarged fortune.

A very small offence may be a just cause for great resentment: it is often much less the particular instance which is obnoxious to us than the proof it carries with it of the general tenor and disposition of the mind from whence it sprung.

The world is an excellent judge in general, but a very bad one in particular.

A lively and agreeable man has not only the merit of liveliness and agreeableness himself, but that also of awakening them in others.

Those men who are commended by everybody must be very extraordinary men; or, which is more probable, very inconsiderable men.

Good-humor will sometimes conquer ill-humor, but ill-humor will conquer it oftener; and for this plain reason, good-humor must operate on generosity, ill-humor on meanness.