None but those who are happy in themselves can make others so.

Silence is one great art of conversation.

We prefer a person with vivacity and high spirits, though bordering upon insolence, to the timid and pusillanimous; we are fonder of wit joined to malice than of dullness without it.

The greatest reverses of fortune are the most easily borne from a sort of dignity belonging to them.

The rule for traveling abroad is to take our common sense with us, and leave our prejudices behind.

By retaliating our sufferings on the heads of those we love, we get rid of a present uneasiness and incur lasting remorse. With the accomplishment of our revenge our fondness returns; so that we feel the injury we have done them, even more than they do.

Perhaps propriety is as near a word as any to denote the manners of the gentleman; elegance is necessary to the fine gentleman; dignity is proper to noblemen; and majesty to kings.