Even in the common affairs of life, in love, friendship, and marriage, how little security have we when we trust our happiness in the hands of others!

A nickname is the heaviest stone that the devil can throw at a man. It is a bugbear to the imagination, and, though we do not believe in it, it still haunts our apprehensions.

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

One is always more vexed at losing a game of any sort by a single hole or ace, than if one has never had a chance of winning it.

Rules and models destroy genius and art.

There is no one thoroughly despicable. We cannot descend much lower than an idiot; and an idiot has some advantages over a wise man.

Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence. It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.