Amid the most mercenary ages it is but a secondary sort of admiration that is bestowed upon magnificence.

A person that would secure to himself great deference will, perhaps, gain his point by silence as effectually as by anything he can say.

The lowest people are generally the first to find fault with show or equipage; especially that of a person lately emerged from his obscurity. They never once consider that he is breaking the ice for themselves.

Flattery of the verbal kind is gross. In short, applause is of too coarse a nature to be swallowed in the gross, though the extract or tincture be ever so agreeable.

Second thoughts oftentimes are the very worst of all thoughts.

Theirs is the present who can praise the past.

The weak and insipid white wine makes at length excellent vinegar.