In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.
Choose your pleasures for yourself, and do not let them be imposed upon you.
Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads.
Letters should be easy and natural, and convey to the persons to whom we send them just what we should say to the persons if we were with them.
History is but a confused heap of facts.
There never were, since the creation of the world, two cases exactly parallel.
Little vicious minds abound with anger and revenge and are incapable of feeling te pleasure of forgiving their enemies.
Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age; and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old.
Most people enjoy the inferiority of their best friends.
There is time enough for everything in the course of the day if you do but one thing once; but there is not time enough in the year if you will do two things at a time.
I recommend to you to take care of the minutes; for hours will take care of themselves. I am very sure, that many people lose two or three hours every day, by not taking care of the minutes.
Words are the dress of thoughts; which should no more be presented in rags, tatters, and dirt than your person should.
Wit is so shining a quality that everybody admires it; most people aim at it, all people fear it, and few love it unless in themselves. A man must have a good share of wit himself to endure a great share of it in another.
I am very sure that any man of common understanding may, by culture, care, attention, and labor, make himself what- ever he pleases, except a great poet.
Custom has made dancing sometimes necessary for a young man; therefore mind it while you learn it, that you may learn to do it well, and not be ridiculous, though in a ridiculous act.
Pleasure is a necessary reciprocal. No one feels, who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please. What pleases you in others, will in general please them in you.
The difference between a man of sense and a fop is that the fop values himself upon his dress; and the man of sense laughs at it, at the same time he knows he must not neglect it.
To have frequent recourse to narrative betrays great want of imagination.
To govern mankind, one must not overrate them.
The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment.