Nothing gives such a blow to friendship as the detecting another in an untruth. It strikes at the root of our confidence ever after.
Man is a poetical animal, and delights in fiction.
Genius only leaves behind it the monuments of its strength.
Men of the greatest genius are not always the most prodigal of their encomiums. But then it is when their range of power is confined, and they have in fact little perception, except of their own particular kind of excellence.
There cannot be a surer proof of low origin, or of an innate meanness of disposition, than to be always talking and thinking of being genteel.
The expression of a gentleman’s face is not so much that of refinement, as of flexibility, not of sensibility and enthusiasm as of indifference; it argues presence of mind rather than enlargement of ideas.
I am always afraid of a fool. One cannot be sure that he is not a knave as well.
To write a genuine familiar or truly English style is to write as anyone would speak in common conversation, who had a thorough command and choice of words, or who could discourse with ease, force, and perspicuity, setting aside all pedantic and oratorical flourishes.
Talent is the capacity of doing anything that depends on application and industry and it is a voluntary power, while genius is involuntary.
Time, – the most independent of all things.
A distinction has been made between acuteness and subtlety of understanding. This might be illustrated by saying that acuteness consists in taking up the points or solid atoms, subtlety in feeling the air of truth.
The vain man makes a merit of misfortune, and triumphs in his disgrace.
People do not persist in their vices because they are not weary of them, but because they cannot leave them off. It is the nature of vice to leave us no resource but in itself.
The vices are never so well employed as in combating one another.
There is some virtue in almost every vice, except hypocrisy; and even that, while it is a mockery of virtue, is at the same time a compliment to it.
Every man depends on the quantity of sense, wit, or good manners he brings into society for the reception he meets with in it.
Habit is necessary to give power.
Our opinions are not our own, but in the power of sympathy. If a person tells us a palpable falsehood, we not only dare not contradict him, but we dare hardly disbelieve him to his face. A lie boldly uttered has the effect of truth for the instant.
Popularity disarms envy in well-disposed minds. Those are ever the most ready to do justice to others who feel that the world has done them justice. When success has not this effect in opening the mind, it is a sign that it has been ill deserved.
Want of principle is power. Truth and honesty set a limit to our efforts, which impudence and hypocrisy easily overleap.