Fame often rests at first upon something accidental, and often, too, is swept away, or for a time removed; but neither genius nor glory, is conferred at once, nor do they glimmer and fall, like drops in a grotto, at a shout.

The habit of pleasing by flattery makes a language soft; the fear of offending by truth makes it circuitous and conventional.

A smile is ever the most bright and beautiful with a tear upon it. What is the dawn without the dew? The tear is rendered by the smile precious above the smile itself.

A mercantile democracy may govern long and widely; a mercantile aristocracy cannot stand.

In the morn of life we are alert, we are heated in its noon, and only in its decline do we repose.

Goodness does not more certainly make men happy than happiness makes them good.

Fame often rests at first upon something accidental, and often, too, is swept away, or for a time removed; but neither genius nor glory, is conferred at once, nor do they glimmer and fall, like drops in a grotto, at a shout.