To a superior race of being the pretensions of mankind to extraordinary sanctity and virtue must seem... ridiculous.

There is not a more mean, stupid, dastardly, pitiful, selfish, spiteful, envious, ungrateful animal than the Public. It is the greatest of cowards, for it is afraid of itself.

No one ever approaches perfection except by stealth, and unknown to themselves.

To be remembered after we are dead, is but poor recompense for being treated with contempt while we are living.

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.

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

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