“There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly, that utility is the test of their value.”

The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health.

Honor is unstable and seldom the same; for she feeds upon opinion, and is as fickle as her food.

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Like friends, too, we should return to them again and again for, like true friends, they will never fail us – never cease to instruct – never cloy.

An honest man will continue to be so though surrounded on all sides by rogues.

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.

Oppression cannot prosper where none will submit to be enslaved.

He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself.

The victim to too severe a law is considered as a martyr rather than a criminal.

Body and mind, like man and wife, do not always agree to die together.

The head of dullness, unlike the tail of the torpedo, loses nothing of the benumbing and lethargizing influence by reiterated discharges.

The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.

If you are under obligations to many, it is prudent to postpone the recompensing of one, until it be in your power to remunerate all; otherwise you will make more enemies by what you give, than by what you withhold.

It is not every man that can afford to wear a shabby coat.

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.

Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.

He that can enjoy the intimacy of the great, and on no occasion disgust them by familiarity, or disgrace himself by servility, proves that he is as perfect a gentleman by nature as his companions are by rank.