“Mankind are more indebted to industry than ingenuity; the gods set up their favors at a price, and industry is the purchaser.”

Content thyself to be obscurely good.

The utmost extent of man’s knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.

The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.

Nothing that isn’t a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency.

Man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.

There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion.

We are growing serious, and, let me tell you, that’s the very next step to being dull.

There is not any present moment that is unconnected with some future one. The life of every man is a continued chain of incidents, each link of which hangs upon the former.

Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.

Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.

A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections

Artificial intelligence will never be a match for natural stupidity.

There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.

There is nothing more requisite in business than despatch.

A person may be qualified to do greater good to mankind and become more beneficial to the world, by morality without faith than by faith without morality.

Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.

A noble soul spreads even over a face in which the architectonic beauty is wanting an irresistible grace, and a often even triumphs over the natural disfavor.

Unwanted favours gain no gratitude.

I am in favor of helping the prosperity of all countries because, when we are all prosperous, the trade with each becomes more valuable to the other.

You hypnotize yourself with memories that were meant to be forgotten, then wonder why destiny never favors you.

That is the Roman way: to give favors to the favorites.

Hearing Mass is the ceremony I most favor during my travels. Church is the only place where someone speaks to me and I do not have to answer back.

Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.

You’d be doing me a favor if you called me Wyatt or Earp, but not both.”