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.

Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief. while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.

The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to be chiefly the motive; the mere honest man does that from duty which the man of honor does for the sake of character.

The fund of sensible discourse is limited; that of jest and badinerie is infinite.

Virtues, like essences, lose their fragrance when exposed. They are sensitive plants, which will not bear too familiar approaches.

It seems with wit and good-nature, Utrum horum mavis accipe. Taste and good-nature are universally connected.

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