I have been formerly so silly as to hope that every servant I had might be made a friend; I am now convinced that the nature of servitude generally bears a contrary tendency. People's characters are to be chiefly collected from their education and place in life; birth itself does but little.

Let the gulled fool the toil of war pursue, where bleed the many to enrich the few.

Men of quality never appear more amiable than when their dress is plain. Their birth, rank, title and its appendages are at best indivious and as they do not need the assistance of dress, so, by their disclaiming the advantage of it, they make their superiority sit more easy.

There is nothing more universally commended than a fine day; the reason is that people can commend it without envy.

The best time to frame an answer to the letters of a friend, is the moment you receive them. Then the warmth of friendship, and the intelligence received, most forcibly cooperate.

Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world.

Let us be careful to distinguish modesty, which is ever amiable, from reserve, which is only prudent.