There is not in the world so toilsome a trade as the pursuit of fame: life concludes before you have so much as sketched your work.

There is a false modesty, which is vanity; a false glory, which is levity; a false grandeur. which is meanness; a false virtue, which is hypocrisy; and a false wisdom, which is prudery.

The very essence of politeness seems to be to take care by our words and actions we make other people pleased with us as well as with themselves.

The beginning and the decline of love are both marked by the embarrassment the lovers feel to be alone together.

We perceive when love begins and when it declines by our perplexity when alone.

We dread old age, which are not sure of being able to attain.

Two quite opposite qualities equally bias our minds habits and novelty.

Discretion is the perfection of reason and a guide to us in all the duties of life. It is only found in men of sound sense and understanding.

The most amiable men are those who least wound the self-love of others.

We seldom repent talking little, but very often talking too much.