The temple of fame stands upon the grave: the flame that burns upon its altars is kindled from the ashes of great men.

Humour is the making others act or talk absurdly and unconsciously; wit is the pointing out and ridiculing that absurdity consciously, and with more or less ill-nature.

Those who have had none of the cares of this life to harass and disturb them, have been obliged to have recourse to the hopes and fears of the next to vary the prospect before them.

Nothing gives such a blow to friendship as the detecting another in an untruth. It strikes at the root of our confidence ever after.

The true barbarian is he who thinks everything barbarous but his own tastes and prejudices.

The best way to make ourselves agreeable to others is by seeming to think them so. If we appear fully sensible of their good qualities they will not complain of the want of them in us.

...greatness sympathises with greatness, and littleness shrinks into itself.