“If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards.”

Every man is rich or poor according to the proportion between his desires and his enjoyments.

How small of all that human hearts endure, That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.

Men who stand in the highest ranks of society seldom hear of their faults; if by any accident an opprobrious clamour reaches their ears, flattery is always at hand to pour in her opiates, to quiet conviction and obtund remorse.

A man who uses a great many words to express his meaning is like a bad marksman who, instead of aiming a single stone at an object, takes up a handful and throws at it in hopes he may hit.

My dear friend, clear your mind of can’t.

Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.

Fraud and falsehood only dread examination. Truth invites it.

He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.

People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.

What ever the motive for the insult, it is always best to overlook it; for folly doesn’t deserve resentment, and malice is punished by neglect.

Power is gradually stealing away from the many to the few, because the few are more vigilant and consistent.

The wise man applauds he who he thinks most virtuous; the rest of the world applauds the wealthy.

Pride is a vice, which pride itself inclines every man to find in others, and to overlook in himself.

Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal; and he may be properly charged with evil who refused to learn how he might prevent it.

He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do anything.

If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

Take care what you say before a wall, as you cannot tell who may be behind it.

You knew the sweetness of now, now, TONIGHT! who cares for tomorrow, tomorrow is nothing, yesterday is over and done, tonight live, tonight!

I remember I was there for you bitches, when nobody cared for you bitches.

My theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares. Why should you?

The only friends who are free from cares are the goblet of wine and a book. Give me wine…that I may for a time forget the cares of the world.

Instead of asking yourself why you care so much, ask everyone else why they don’t.

A fraudulent intent, however carefully concealed at the outset, will generally, in the end, betray itself.

A friend whom you have been gaining during your whole life, you ought not to be displeased with in a moment. A stone is many years becoming a ruby – take care that you do not destroy it in an instant against another stone.