Politeness has been defined to be artificial good-nature; but we may affirm, with much greater propriety, that good-nature is natural politeness.

A well-read fool is the most pestilent of blockheads; his learning is a flail which he knows not how to handle, and with which he breaks his neighbor's shins as well as his own. Keep a fellow of this description at arm's length, as you value the integrity of your bones.

Conscience warns us as a friend before it punishes us as a judge.

There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.

It is hardly possible to suspect another without having in one's self the seeds of baseness the party is accused of.

How many persons fancy they have experience simply because they have grown old!

Religion has nothing more to fear than not being sufficiently understood.