I hardly know so true a mark of a little mind as the servile imitation of others.

Whatever natural right men may have to freedom and independency, it is manifest that some men have a natural ascendency over others.

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

True delicacy, as true generosity, is more wounded by an offence from itself--if I may be allowed the expression--than to itself.

We should do by our cunning as we do by our courage--always have it ready to defend ourselves, never to offend others.

Some characters are like some bodies in chemistry; very good, perhaps, in themselves, yet fly off and refuse the least conjunction with each other.

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.