By retaliating our sufferings on the heads of those we love, we get rid of a present uneasiness and incur lasting remorse. With the accomplishment of our revenge our fondness returns; so that we feel the injury we have done them, even more than they do.
Greatness is great power, producing great effects. It is not enough that a man has great power in himself, he must shew it to all the world in a way that cannot be hid or gainsaid.
To display the greatest powers, unless they are applied to great purposes, makes nothing for the character of greatness.
To die is only to be as we were before we were born; yet no one feels any remorse, or regret, or repugnance, in contemplating this last idea.
Abuse is an indirect species of homage.
What I mean by living to one’s self is living in the world, as in it, not of it.
It is easier taking the beaten path than making our way over bogs and precipices. The great difficulty in philosophy is to come to every question with a mind fresh and unshackled by former theories, though strengthened by exercise and information.
I like a person who knows his own mind and sticks to it; who sees at once what is to be done in given circumstances and does it. He does not beat about the bush for difficulties or excuses, but goes the shortest and most effectual way to work to attain his own ends, or to accomplish a useful object.
When you find out a man’s ruling passion, beware of crossing him in it.
We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of another if we can help it. We cannot bear a superior or an equal. Hence ridicule is sure to prevail over truth, for the malice of mankind, thrown into the scale, gives the casting weight.
Men of gravity are intellectual stammerers, whose thoughts move slowly.
The truth is, we pamper little griefs into great ones, and bear great ones as well as we can.
The amiable is the voluptuous in expression or manner. The sense of pleasure in ourselves is that which excites it in others; or, the art of pleasing is to seem pleased.
Poverty is the test of civility and the touchstone of friendship.
Poverty, when it is voluntary, is never despicable, but takes an heroical aspect.
To be forward to praise others implies either great eminence, that can afford to, part with applause; or great quickness of discernment, with confidence in our own judgments; or great sincerity and love of truth, getting the better of our self-love.
Principle is a passion for truth.
The look of a gentleman is little else than the reflection of the looks of the world.
Experience makes us wise.
As we are poetical in our natures, so we delight in fable.