Never exaggerate. It is a matter of great importance to forego superlatives, in part to avoid offending the truth, and in part to avoid cheapening your judgment. Exaggeration wastes distinction and testifies to the paucity of your understanding and taste.

One person's 'no' is valued more than another's 'yes' because a gilded 'no' satisfies far more than a blunt 'yes'

What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.

All victories breed hate, and that over your superior is foolish or fatal.

Reputation depends more on what is hidden than on what is seen. If you can't be good, be careful.

Good things, when short, are twice as good.

A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity.

To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has nothing else.

Liking someone's company need nt suggest true intimacy— it can simply mean enjoying their humor rsther than having any confidence in their actual abilities.

A wise person does at once, what a fool does at last. Both do the same thing; only at different times.