The moral cement of all society is virtue; it unites and preserves, while vice separates and destroys.
That theatrical kind of virtue, which requires publicity for its stage, and an applauding world for its audience, could not be depended on, in the secrecy of solitude, or the retirement of a desert.
There is but one pursuit in life which it is in the power of all to follow, and of all to attain. It is subject to no disappointments, since he that perseveres, makes every difficulty an advancement, and every contest a victory; and this is the pursuit of virtue.
Sincerely to aspire after virtue, is to gain her; and zealously to labour after her wages, is to receive them.
There are some who write, talk, and think, so much about vice and virtue, that they have no time to practice either the one or the other.
It has been shrewdly said, that when, men abuse us we should suspect ourselves, and when they praise us, them. It is a rare instance of virtue to despise which censure which we do not deserve; and still more rare to despise praise which we do.
Make the most of the day, by determining to spend it on two sorts of acquaintances only – those by whom something may be got, and those from whom something may be learned.
We shall at all times chance upon men of recondite acquirements, but whose qualifications, from the incommunicative and inactive habits of their owners, are as utterly useless to others as though the possessors had them not.
He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself.
Any one can give advice, such as it is, but only a wise man knows how to profit by it.
It is with antiquity as with ancestry, nations are proud of the one, and individuals of the other; but if they are nothing in themselves, that which is their pride ought to be their humiliation.
Anger is practical awkwardness.
A thorough-paced antiquary not only remembers what all other people have thought proper to forget, but he also forgets what all other people think is proper to remember.
Silence is less injurious than a weak reply.
He that can enjoy the intimacy of the great, and on no occasion disgust them by familiarity, or disgrace himself by servility, proves that he is as perfect a gentleman by nature as his companions are by rank.
It is adverse to talent to be consorted and trained up with inferior minds and inferior companions, however high they may rank. The foal of the racer neither finds out his speed nor calls out his powers if pastured out with the common herd, that are destined for the collar and the yoke.
Courage is generosity of the highest order, for the brave are prodigal of the most precious things.
He that dies a martyr proves that he was not a knave, but by no means that he was not a fool.
From the preponderance of talent, we may always infer the soundness and vigour of the commonwealth; but from the preponderance of riches, its dotage and degeneration.
Many a man may thank his talent for his rank, but no man has ever been able to return the compliment by thanking his rank for his talent.