“In private conversation between intimate friends, the wisest men very often talk like the weakest : for indeed the talking with a friend is nothing else but thinking aloud.”

Temperance gives nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigor.

Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes.

When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.

The friendships of the world are oft confederacies in vice, or leagues of pleasures.

All well-regulated families set apart an hour every morning for tea and bread and butter

A solid and substantial greatness of soul looks down with neglect on the censures and applauses of the multitude.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.

A good character, good habits and iron industry are impregnable to the assaults of all ill-luck that fools ever dreamed.

It is ridiculous for any man to criticize on the works of another, who has not distinguished himself by his own performances.

To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady’s attire this is the single excellence; for to be what some people call fine, is the same vice, in that case, as to be florid is in writing or speaking.

A wealthy doctor who can help a poor man, and will not without a fee, has less sense of humanity than a poor ruffian, who kills a rich man to supply his necessities.

Riches expose a man to pride and luxury, and a foolish elation of heart.

They were a people so primitive they did not know how to get money, except by working for it.

Nature has laid out all her art in beautifying the face; she has touched it with vermilion, planted in it a double row of ivory, made it the seat of smiles and blushes, lighted it up and enlivened it with the brightness of the eyes.

No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.

And surely one of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid.

Argument is the worst sort of conversation.

You’re always in a rush, or else you’re too exhausted to have a proper conversation. Soon enough, the long hours, the traveling, the broken sleep have all crept into your being and become part of you, so everyone can see it, in your posture, your gaze, the way you move and talk.

Our inner conversations often block our natural energy of peace, happiness and love.

A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That’s why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet.

Apply this simple rule to your conversations: If you wouldn’t write it down and sign it, don’t say it.

Our inner conversations often block our natural energy of peace, happiness and love.

I was born in Copenhagen, and when I was a year old, we moved to Bangalore. I was always a shy person and was happy with just a few friends and that came from my own social awkwardness. I did not know how to make conversations.