Every man, in judging of himself, is his own contemporary. He may feel the gale of popularity, but he cannot tell how long it will last. His opinion of himself wants distance, wants time, wants numbers, to set it off and confirm it.

We judge of others for the most part by their good opinion of themselves; yet nothing gives such offense or creates so many enemies, as that extreme self-complacency or superciliousness of manner, which appears to set the opinion of every one else at defiance.

Good temper is an estate for life.

Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find my way across the room.

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

It may be made a question whether men grow wiser as they grow older, anymore than they grow stronger or healthier or honest.

There is nothing more to be esteemed than a manly firmness and decision of character.