It is part of the business of life to be affable and pleasing to those whom either nature, chance or circumstance has made our companions.

Everywhere do I percieve a certain conspiracy of rich men seeking their own advantage underthat name and pretext of commonwealth.

For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them.

Kindness and good nature unite men more effectually and with greater strength than any agreements whatsoever, since thereby the engagements of men's hearts become stronger than the bond and obligation of words.

Occupy your mind with good thoughts, or the enemy will fill them with bad ones.

A good tale evil told were better untold, and an evil take well told need none other solicitor.

A drowning man will clutch at a straw.