The truth is, we pamper little griefs into great ones, and bear great ones as well as we can.

A man who does not endeavour to seem more than he is will generally be thought nothing of. We habitually make such large deductions for pretence and imposture that no real merit will stand against them. It is necessary to set off our good qualities with a certain air of plausibility and self-importance, as some attention to fashion is necessary.

It is the vice of scholars to suppose that there is no knowledge in the world but that of books.

I have known persons without a friend--never any one without some virtue. The virtues of the former conspired with their vices to make the whole world their enemies.

We trifle with, make sport of, and despise those who are attached to us, and follow those that fly from us.

It is better to be able neither to read nor write than to be able to do nothing else.

Those who make their dress a principal part of themselves, will, in general, become of no more value than their dress.