The easiest thing for our friends to discover in us, and the hardest thing for us to discover in ourselves, is that we are growing old.
As the flint contains the spark, unknown to itself, which the steel alone can awaken to life, so adversity often reveals to us hidden gems, which prosperity or negligence would forever have hidden.
Admiration is a youthful fancy will which scarcely ever survives to mature years.
Liberty, like chastity, once lost, can never be regained in its original purity.
If animals had reason, they would act just as ridiculous as we menfolks do.
As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth – hear both sides and believe neither.
Sekts and creeds ov religion, are like pocket compesses, good enuff tu pinte out the direction, but the nearer the pole yu git thewuss tha wurk.
Menny think tha luv their husbands almost tew deth, when in fack, tha are only jealous ov them.
Good nonsense is good sense in disguise.
When a man makes up his mind to become a rascal, he should examine himself closely and see if he isn’t better constructed for a fool.
Most men would rather be charged with malice than with making a blunder.
There is a sort of charm in ugliness, if the person has some redeeming qualities and is only ugly enough.
The best creed we can have is charity toward the creeds of others.
People who have nothing to say are never at a loss in talking.
Fashion makes fools of some, sinners of others, and slaves of all.
A wise man never enjoys himself so much, nor a fool so little, as when alone.
Keep a cow, and the milk won’t have to be watered but once.
I would much rather always look forward to the time when I am going to ride in a carriage, than to look back on the time when I used to.
The less we know the more we suspect.
Threescore years and ten is enough; if a man can’t suffer all the misery he wants in that time, he must be numb.