The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice.

Society having ordained certain customs, men are bound to obey the law of society, and conform to its harmless orders.

There are many sham diamonds in this life which pass for real, and vice versa.

Life is a mirror: if you frown at it, it frowns back; if you smile, it returns the greeting.

Bravery never goes out of fashion.

If a man has committed wrong in life, I don't know any moralist more anxious to point his errors out to the world than his own relations.

If, in looking at the lives of princes, courtiers, men of rank and fashion, we must perforce depict them as idle, profligate, and criminal, we must make allowances for the rich men's failings, and recollect that we, too, were very likely indolent and voluptuous, had we no motive for work, a mortal's natural taste for pleasure, and the daily temptation of a large income. What could a great peer, with a great castle and park, and a great fortune, do but be splendid and idle?