Cunning is the art of concealing our own defects, and discovering other people's weaknesses.

To think ill of mankind and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue.

In love we do not think of moral qualities, and scarcely of intellectual ones. Temperament and manner alone, with beauty, excite love.

Confidence gives a fool the advantage over a wise man.

Poverty, when it is voluntary, is never despicable, but takes an heroical aspect.

The present is an age of talkers, and not of doers; and the reason is, that the world is growing old. We are so far advanced in the Arts and Sciences, that we live in retrospect, and dote on past achievement.

The dupe of friendship, and the fool of love; have I not reason to hate and to despise myself? Indeed I do; and chiefly for not having hated and despised the world enough.