“Taking things not as they ought to be, but as they are, I fear it must be allowed that Macchiavelli will always have more disciples than Jesus.”

Light, whether it be material or moral, is the best reformer.

The true motives of our actions, like the real pipes of an organ, are usually concealed; but the gilded and hollow pretext is pompously placed in the front for show.

Cheerfulness ought to be the viaticum vitae of their life to the old; age without cheerfulness is a Lapland winter without a sun.

Make no enemies; he is insignificant indeed that can do thee no harm.

What would you do if you knew for sure that no one would ever find out?

The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first authority under which a person learns to live, the family establishes society’s most basic values.

The man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are.

Sometimes the greatest adversities turn out to be the greatest blessings.

The art of declamation has been sinking in value from the moment that speakers were foolish enough to publish, and hearers wise enough to read.

An Irish man fights before he reasons, a Scotchman reasons before he fights, an Englishman is not particular as to the order of precedence, but will do either to accommodate his customers.

It may be observed of good writing, as of good blood, that it is much easier to say what it is composed of than to compose it.

In life we shall find many men that are great, and some that are good, but very few men that are both great and good.

There is this difference between happiness and wisdom; he that thinks himself the happiest man, really is so; but he that thinks himself the wisest, is generally the greatest fool.

The rich are more envied by those who have a little, than by those who have nothing.

True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.

Cruel men are the greatest lovers of Mercy, avaricious men of generosity, and proud men of humility; that is to say, in other, not in themselves.