“Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, Are lost on hearers that our merits know.”

The most positive men are the most credulous.

Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.

Do you find yourself making excuses when you do not perform? Shed the excuses and face reality. Excuses are the loser’s way out. They will mar your credibility and stunt your personal growth.

A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink of it deeply, or taste it not, for shallow thoughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking deeply sobers us again.

Every professional was once an amateur.

The vanity of human life is like a river, constantly passing away, and yet constantly coming on.

There is a majesty in simplicity.

He who tells a lie is not sensible of how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast: Man never is, but always To be Blest.

In this commonplace world every one is said to be romantic who either admires a fine thing or does one.

Why did I write? What sin to me unknown dipped me in ink, my parents , or my own?

Conceit is to nature what paint is to beauty; it is not only needless, but it impairs what it would improve.

Get your enemy to read your works in order to mend them, for your friend is so much your second self that he will judge too like you.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

When we are young, we are slavishly employed in procuring something whereby we may live comfortably when we grow old; and when we are old, we perceive it is too late to live as we proposed.

One enemy can do more hurt than ten friends can do good.

Words, as is well known, are the great foes of reality.

The innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time.

But O the exceeding grace Of highest God, that loves his creatures so, And all his works with mercy doth embrace, That blessed angels, he sends to and fro, To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe.

Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.

We have come to think of taking offence as a fundamental right. We value very little more highly than our rage, which gives us, in our opinion, the moral high ground. From there we can shoot down at our enemies and inflict heavy fatalities.

Some folks rail against other folks, because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.

Look on the grave where thou must sleep Thy last, and strongest foe; It is endurance not to weep, If that repose seem woe.